Who’s dying in Iraq?
Seventy-five percent of the deaths were active duty and 24.8 percent were National Guard or Reserves. Of these, 67.9 percent were Army, 29.1 percent were Marines (Marines only comprise 9.8 percent of the total U.S. military force, thus they are taking a disproportional number of casualties), 1 percent Air Force, and 2 percent Navy. Thus, if you are going to enlist, join the Navy or Air Force.
Of those killed, 918 were between the ages of 1 and 19 (46.1 percent), 66 (33.2 percent) were between the ages of 20 and 24. Thus, 79.3 percent were 24 or younger. Two hundred and thirty-nine were between the ages of 25 and 34, 42 were between the ages of 35 and 44, and 141 were the above the age of 44.
Of these, 1,465 (73.8 percent) were white, versus 67 percent in the military; 211 (10.7 percent) were black, versus 17.0 percent in the military; and 217 (10.9 percent) were Hispanic versus 9 percent in the military.
Forty-one (2.1 percent) females were killed, versus 16 percent in the military.
Of those killed, 1,333 (56.8 percent) were enlisted below the rank of sergeant, versus 42.1 percent in the military; 694 held the rank of sergeant or warrant officer; 137 held the rank of lieutenant or captain; and 28 held the rank above captain.
Of those who have died, 1,534 were due to hostile encounters, of which 766 were from an improvised explosive device (IED), 424 from gunshots, 151 from mortar/rocket fire, 70 from bombs, 15 from burns and 15 from smoke inhalation.
In terms of non-hostile deaths, 160 died in vehicle crashes, 132 in aircraft crashes, 31 were heart- related, 41 from drowning, 10 from electrocution, 3 from drug overdose, 2 from falls, 7 from blunt force, and 11 from respiratory failure.
The states will the largest number of deaths are: California (213); Texas (177); Pennsylvania (104); New York (95); Ohio (94); Florida (84); Illinois (79); Georgia (63); Michigan (59); Virginia (54); Arizona (52); Louisiana (47); Wisconsin (47); Tennessee (46); Indiana (43); North Carolina (42); Washington (38); New Jersey (36); Alabama (34); and Oregon (34).
The states with the highest deaths per capita (per 100,000) are: Vermont (1.93); South Dakota (1.42); North Dakota (1.41); Wyoming (1.18); Nebraska (1.08); Mississippi (1.06); Louisiana (1.04); Arkansas (1.01); Idaho (1.00); Montana (0.97); Oregon (0.94); Arizona (0.94); Oklahoma (0.87); Wisconsin (0.85); Delaware (0.84), and Pennsylvania (0.83).
In terms of bases, Camp Pendleton, Calif., has had the highest number of casualties (241) followed by Fort Hood, Texas (149), Camp Lejeune, N.C. (138), Fort Stewart, Ga. (100), Fort Carson, Colo. (75), Fort Bragg, N.C. (74), Fort Campbell, Ken. (67), Fort Riley, Kan. (58), Twentynine Palms, Calif. (57), and Fort Lewis, Wash. (51).
To read about the individual service members who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom go to: www.militarycity.com/valor.
— Compiled by Lee Shelton
