thedrifter
07-31-08, 05:51 AM
MILITARY: Monthly troop deaths lowest since Iraq invasion
By MARK WALKER - Staff Writer
Though the region has lost nearly 1,000 Marines since the invasion of Iraq, the sounds of taps are being heard far less often across Southern California.
Through the first seven months of this year, eight Camp Pendleton-based Marines have died in Iraq, the lowest total for comparable periods since the war began in March 2003.
For North County military families, the declining death toll means fewer somber memorials, fewer roadside bouquets and fewer heartfelt notes of grief and remembrance.
Overall, 11 U.S. troops from all branches of the military died in Iraq this month, the lowest monthly figure since the war began, according to statistics kept by icasualties.org.
The declining violence in Iraq being reported by the military also is reflected at San Diego's Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, which hasn't lost a single troop in Iraq this year.
The reduction in troop deaths for the region is a welcome respite from the first five years of the war. Of the 994 Marines who have perished, nearly 47 percent, or 465, came from Camp Pendleton, Miramar or the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms in the Mojave Desert.
The declining casualty reports are welcomed by groups such as American Combat Veterans of War, a nonprofit organization that works with troops on issues of stress and problems encountered in obtaining benefits. Group members also participate in memorial services for local troops.
"We're happy that fewer are dying, but unfortunately, I think we're going to see those numbers continue to rise in Afghanistan," said Bill Rider, the group's president.
The reported decrease in violence across Iraq, coupled with reports of growing political stability there, are prompting Marine Corps leaders and enlisted men to question how much longer they need to be in the country.
Those questions come as commanders in Afghanistan have asked for up to 10,000 more troops to quell rising violence in that country.
About 11,000 locally based Marines and sailors are serving in Iraq this year, including two regimental combat teams based at Camp Pendleton and several elements of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based at Miramar. Most of those Marines and sailors are scheduled to be home by year's end.
At sea now are an additional 1,200-plus Marines and sailors from Camp Pendleton's 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. While some have speculated that that force may be ordered to Afghanistan, Pentagon spokesman Jeff Morrell told reporters this week that he doubted that would occur.
The local troops serve primarily in Anbar province, a sprawling region the size of North Carolina that was once considered an insurgent stronghold that would never be tamed. That began to change in late 2006 when Sunni tribal sheiks in the province of about 1.2 million people began to turn away from the insurgency and al-Qaida foreign fighters.
More killings in U.S. cities
A high-level officer in Iraq said this month that while parts of Anbar remain dangerous, the Iraqi national army and security forces are taking primary responsibility for security in the region, albeit with the knowledge that Marines are ready to back them up.
"If you look at what has been happening, there's no question the violence is down," said the officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. "There are more killings on a monthly basis now in a lot of large American cities than we are seeing here."
Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, the top enlisted man in the Marine Corps, echoed the growing sense of calm in Anbar, telling the weekly Marine Corps Times newspaper that many of the Marines there are "bored."
"If you look at Iraq, it's pretty stable, especially out in western Iraq," Kent is quoted as telling the newspaper in its edition dated Aug. 4. "It's really, really stable out there. If you talk to the average Marine over in Al Anbar, they are bored."
Kent also said that Marine infantry battalions "go over now and they don't fire their weapon ---- not one ---- in anger."
Marine losses
Since Jan. 1, 219 American service members have died in Iraq. That compares with 254 for the first seven months of 2003, 466 between Jan. 1 and July 31 in 2004. In 2005, the death toll was 384 for the comparable period and 347 in 2006.
Last year, 660 U.S. troops were killed between January and July. By the end of December, 902 troop fatalities had been recorded, making it the most lethal year of the war.
Of the 11 U.S. fatalities in July, two were Army soldiers kidnapped last year but whose remains went undiscovered until this month.
Two of the nine troops who died this month were Marines, including one based at Camp Pendleton, Lance Cpl. Jeffery Stevenson. He was killed in what the Pentagon described only as a nonhostile incident that remains under investigation.
The 994 Marines who have died represent nearly one-quarter of the overall U.S. fatality count of 4,125. The loss includes 864 active-duty Marines and 130 reservists, according to icasualties.org.
Of the 994, 336 were active-duty Marines based at Camp Pendleton and 14 were based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. Four of the reservists to die were based at Camp Pendleton.
Another 111 Marines based at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms have been killed in Iraq, according to the icasualty.org figures.
The reductions in violence haven't changed anything as far as the group Iraq Veterans Against the War is concerned. It continues to call for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.
"The reduction doesn't mean much about the reasons why we're there," said Del Mar's Kenyon Ralph, a former Marine sergeant who had tours of duty in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 and heads the 30-member San Diego chapter of the group. "We're still occupying Iraq and the war is illegal and it isn't good for the American people or the Iraqis."
Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
Ellie
By MARK WALKER - Staff Writer
Though the region has lost nearly 1,000 Marines since the invasion of Iraq, the sounds of taps are being heard far less often across Southern California.
Through the first seven months of this year, eight Camp Pendleton-based Marines have died in Iraq, the lowest total for comparable periods since the war began in March 2003.
For North County military families, the declining death toll means fewer somber memorials, fewer roadside bouquets and fewer heartfelt notes of grief and remembrance.
Overall, 11 U.S. troops from all branches of the military died in Iraq this month, the lowest monthly figure since the war began, according to statistics kept by icasualties.org.
The declining violence in Iraq being reported by the military also is reflected at San Diego's Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, which hasn't lost a single troop in Iraq this year.
The reduction in troop deaths for the region is a welcome respite from the first five years of the war. Of the 994 Marines who have perished, nearly 47 percent, or 465, came from Camp Pendleton, Miramar or the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms in the Mojave Desert.
The declining casualty reports are welcomed by groups such as American Combat Veterans of War, a nonprofit organization that works with troops on issues of stress and problems encountered in obtaining benefits. Group members also participate in memorial services for local troops.
"We're happy that fewer are dying, but unfortunately, I think we're going to see those numbers continue to rise in Afghanistan," said Bill Rider, the group's president.
The reported decrease in violence across Iraq, coupled with reports of growing political stability there, are prompting Marine Corps leaders and enlisted men to question how much longer they need to be in the country.
Those questions come as commanders in Afghanistan have asked for up to 10,000 more troops to quell rising violence in that country.
About 11,000 locally based Marines and sailors are serving in Iraq this year, including two regimental combat teams based at Camp Pendleton and several elements of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based at Miramar. Most of those Marines and sailors are scheduled to be home by year's end.
At sea now are an additional 1,200-plus Marines and sailors from Camp Pendleton's 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. While some have speculated that that force may be ordered to Afghanistan, Pentagon spokesman Jeff Morrell told reporters this week that he doubted that would occur.
The local troops serve primarily in Anbar province, a sprawling region the size of North Carolina that was once considered an insurgent stronghold that would never be tamed. That began to change in late 2006 when Sunni tribal sheiks in the province of about 1.2 million people began to turn away from the insurgency and al-Qaida foreign fighters.
More killings in U.S. cities
A high-level officer in Iraq said this month that while parts of Anbar remain dangerous, the Iraqi national army and security forces are taking primary responsibility for security in the region, albeit with the knowledge that Marines are ready to back them up.
"If you look at what has been happening, there's no question the violence is down," said the officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. "There are more killings on a monthly basis now in a lot of large American cities than we are seeing here."
Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, the top enlisted man in the Marine Corps, echoed the growing sense of calm in Anbar, telling the weekly Marine Corps Times newspaper that many of the Marines there are "bored."
"If you look at Iraq, it's pretty stable, especially out in western Iraq," Kent is quoted as telling the newspaper in its edition dated Aug. 4. "It's really, really stable out there. If you talk to the average Marine over in Al Anbar, they are bored."
Kent also said that Marine infantry battalions "go over now and they don't fire their weapon ---- not one ---- in anger."
Marine losses
Since Jan. 1, 219 American service members have died in Iraq. That compares with 254 for the first seven months of 2003, 466 between Jan. 1 and July 31 in 2004. In 2005, the death toll was 384 for the comparable period and 347 in 2006.
Last year, 660 U.S. troops were killed between January and July. By the end of December, 902 troop fatalities had been recorded, making it the most lethal year of the war.
Of the 11 U.S. fatalities in July, two were Army soldiers kidnapped last year but whose remains went undiscovered until this month.
Two of the nine troops who died this month were Marines, including one based at Camp Pendleton, Lance Cpl. Jeffery Stevenson. He was killed in what the Pentagon described only as a nonhostile incident that remains under investigation.
The 994 Marines who have died represent nearly one-quarter of the overall U.S. fatality count of 4,125. The loss includes 864 active-duty Marines and 130 reservists, according to icasualties.org.
Of the 994, 336 were active-duty Marines based at Camp Pendleton and 14 were based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. Four of the reservists to die were based at Camp Pendleton.
Another 111 Marines based at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms have been killed in Iraq, according to the icasualty.org figures.
The reductions in violence haven't changed anything as far as the group Iraq Veterans Against the War is concerned. It continues to call for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.
"The reduction doesn't mean much about the reasons why we're there," said Del Mar's Kenyon Ralph, a former Marine sergeant who had tours of duty in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 and heads the 30-member San Diego chapter of the group. "We're still occupying Iraq and the war is illegal and it isn't good for the American people or the Iraqis."
Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
Ellie