For the men who 'do the dying': American deaths in Iraq continue to mount. Here is who and how they are dying

VFW Magazine, August, 2003 by Richard K. Kolb

Pfc. Jesse Hailing arrived in Iraq on May 1, 2003, the same day major offensive operations were declared over. But on June 7, the 19-year-old from Indianapolis found himself in a firefight. While manning the .50-caliber machine gun in the turret of his Humvee, Hailing was hit by shrapnel from an Iraqi rocket-propelled grenade.

Fatally wounded at the Civilian Military Operations Center in Tikrit, he "died for the most noble of causes: to protect his fellow soldiers." Unlike media-manufactured heroes, Halling is the real thing. "Jesse was a hero," said Sgt. Chris Dozier, leader of 2nd Plt., 401st MP Co. "And that is what every soldier in the platoon thinks about him."

Halling has been recommended for a Silver Star for gallantry under fire.

The operative phrase here is "under fire." Americans remain engaged in combat, despite official pronouncements. During phase one of the war (March 20-May 1), 139 Americans died in Iraq. Some 85 (61%) were killed in ground combat. Air, vehicle and weapons accidents, along with explosions, claimed the remainder.

"Friendly fire"--known in military jargon as blue-on-blue--deaths are still being investigated. But at least 10% are attributed to fratricide. Nine Marines of C Co., 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, previously thought KIA on March 23, were determined to have been killed by a U.S. A-10 aircraft. (The fratricide rate in the 1991 Persian Gulf War was 24%.)

Of the total U.S. killed, 98 were in the combat arms (71%) and 41 (29%) in support positions. Ninety-five percent of deaths were evenly split between Marines and soldiers. The Air Force and Navy accounted for the other 5%. Marines sustained the highest per capita death rate of all the services.

Unit-wise, the 2nd and 5th Marine regiments lost the most men in combat, six and five, respectively, for that service. The Army's 3rd Infantry, Division counted 34 total dead. The 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company, ambushed when it veered off course, had 9 KIA.

The worst single day, March 23, saw 28 Americans killed. Overall, 42% of GI deaths occurred in just four days around Nasiriyah and Baghdad.

In terms of age, 29% were under 21. Of all the Americans killed in phase one, 60% were white, 17% Hispanic and 17% black. "Basically," military sociologist Charles Moskos said "who is dying in America's recent wars is small town America, the inner city and the barrio, not suburbia."

What's important is that the public acknowledges the sacrifices. As the mother of Marine Cpl. Mark Evnin put it: "He could have done a lot with his life. But he gave it to the nation."

Deadly Phase Two

GIs stationed in Iraq have faced a different and far more frustrating war since May 1. As of July 7, an additional 71 Americans had been killed in Iraq--29 as a result of hostile action and 42 in accidents.

By June 12, 70% of deaths had been caused by accidents: seven in two helicopter crashes, eight in munitions explosions, 12 in vehicle accidents, two in rifle discharges and two drowned in canals.

But dealing with nerve-wracking sniper and terrorist-like tactics is another matter. Manning checkpoints has become a particularly hazardous duty. With civilians thrown in the mix, determining who the enemy is at any given moment is nearly impossible until it is too late.

As Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) said, "There are forces we can't see. There are competitions between power groups wing for power. There's retribution, there's retaliation." Hagel might have added that there are also bounties on the heads of every American soldier.

Currently on the ground in Iraq are 145,000 U.S. troops. Major Army units include the 82nd (2nd Brigade) and 101st Airborne; 1st Armored, 3rd and 4th Infantry divisions; 173rd Airborne Brigade; and 2nd and 3rd Armored Cavalry (it has had 5 KIA) regiments.

It is the GIs out front who are most vulnerable. America's beloved WWII war correspondent--the "infantry soldier's ambassador to America"--Ernie Pyle taught the nation never to forget that it is only a "tiny percentage of our vast Army who are actually up there doing the dying."

A FINAL SALUTE

In tribute to the Americans killed April 15-July 1 in Iraq, VFW magazine presents this memorial listing.

HOSTILE

AirForce

Staff Sgt. Patrick Lee Griffin, 728th Air Control Sqdn., Elgin, S.C.

Army

Spc. Edward J. Anguiano, 3rd Combat Support Bn., Brownsville, Texas.

Sgt. Thomas F. Broomhead, 2nd Sqdn., 3rd Armored Cav. Regt., Cannon City, Colo.

Spc. Andrew F. Chris, B Co., 3rd Bn., 75th Ranger Regt., California.

Pfc. Michael R. Deuel, B Co., 2nd Bn., 325th Regt., 82nd Airborne Div., Nemo, S.D.

Sgt. Michael E. Dooley, 1st Sqdn., 3rd Armored Cav. Regt., Pulaski, Va.

Pvt. David Evans, 977th Military Police Co., Buffalo, N.Y.

Pvt. Robert L. Frantz, B Co., 1st Bn., 36th Inf. Regt., 1st Armored Div., San Antonio.

Pvt. Jesse M. Halling, 401st Military Police Co., Indianapolis.

Sgt. Atanacio Haromarin, C Btry., 3rd Bn., 16th Field Artillery Regt., Baldwin Park, Calif.

Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, E Troop, 2nd Sqdn., 3rd Armored Cay. Regt., Kingman, Ariz.