86% of American troop deaths in Iraq: non-combat related

The names of seven dead soldiers who were stationed in Iraq are listed on page A13 of the October 4, 2010 edition of the Washington Post.

Pictured are Gebrah Noonan in group photo (courtesy, Patrick Jacques, Jr.), John Carillo Jr. (second row, left), John F. Burner III (second row, right) James A. Hansen (third row, left), Brandon Maggart (third row, right) and Marc C. Whisenant (last row).

Why are we still in Iraq? In Afghanistan? Why are we there for our soldiers to die and be maimed and kill each other?

Sgt. Brandon E. Maggart, 24, of Kirksville, Missouri was killed August 22 at Basra.

The remaining six soldiers died of non-combat wounds.

They are:

Sgt. Ryan J. Hopkins, 21, Livermore, California died January 8 of injuries suffered October 4, 2008 in a motor pool accident

Senior Airman James A. Hansen, 25, Athens, Michigan died September 15 of injuries suffered during a controlled (controlled?) detonation

Sgt. John F. Burner III, 32, of Baltimore died September 16 of noncombat injuries

Spec. John Carrillo Jr., 20, of Stockton, CA and Pfc. Gebrah P. Noonan, 26, of Watertown, CT died September 24 of injuries from a noncombat accident. The Associated Press reported that a soldier in their battalion was being held in pre-trial detention after both soldiers were wounded September 23 after an argument, according to another source. A third soldier was also wounded.

Spec. Marc C. Whisenant, 23, of Holly Hill, FL died September 24 of injuries suffered in a vehicle rollover accident, a training exercise.

Pakistan's cows are more important than American troop deaths: Washington Post

In today's WAPO on p. A6, five columns with two color illustrations start at the top of the page and flow below the fold consuming more than a half page. The subject? The drownings and demise of Pakistan's cattle: "Livestock losses compound Pakistan's misery."

WAPO gives the single remaining gutter column to the deaths of seven American troops in Afghanistan.

WAPO sends a reporter to Pakistan to write about cows but is only able to pull up an AP story on deaths of our soldiers. Where are its priorities?

Who's left at the WAPO? All the editors are gone. Are teenagers running the joint now? Do they know where Afghanistan is? Or how to spell it? In Sunday's paper its own ombudsman complains about the paper's continuing decline. Pitiful is what it is.

Letter to Sen. Webb and Sen. Warner re: Afghanistan and a reply

Dear Senator Webb and Senator Warner:

How long, o Lord, how long?

Day after day after day! We read and hear about more deaths and maimings of our troops in Afghanistan. Why are we there? Why are we expending our resources in a nation far away? Oh, so we are to continue our waste for another year so President Obama can then say before the 2012 election that he is bringing the troops home?

Senator Webb, Senator Warner, how are we exiting Iraq when 50,000 troops will remain?

President Obama is rapidly losing progressive support which he will not have in numbers for 2012 like he had in 2008. Contrary to Sen. Carl Levin's statement that there is "solid support" among Democrats to continue this waste! These deaths! For naught! Levin is dead wrong.

Sincerely,
Patricia

Senator Warner replies:

Saturday, July 17, 2010, 12:07 PM

Dear Friend,

Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences with me.

If you need assistance resolving a specific problem with a federal agency, please contact my office at 703-442-0670 or toll free at 1-877-676-2759. Otherwise, please be assured that we are reading and responding to your comments and opinions as fast as we can.

As the 111th Congress moves forward, please continue to be in touch with your views.

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

Almost 67% of American troop deaths in Iraq from non-combat related causes

The Washington Post recently listed the names of soldiers killed in Iraq, now totaling 4,410.

Pfc. Alvaro Regalado Sessarego, 37, of Virginia Beach, VA, had suffered severe burns in a mess hall fire in April in Dahuk, Iraq. He died of his injuries May 30 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas.

Pvt. Francisco J. Guardado-Ramirez, 21, of Sunland Park, N.M. was in a heavily armored mine resistant ambush protected vehicle when it hit a highway overpass in Baghdad, officials said. He died June 2.

Spc. Christopher W. Opat, 29, of Spencer, Iowa died June 15 in Baquah, Iraq, from injuries in a noncombat incident. Military officials have launched an investigation, but offered no other details.

Sgt. Steve M. Theobald, 53, Goose Creek, S.C. who was a motor transport operator, died June 4 from injuries in a military vehicle rollover accident near Kuwait City.

Sgt. Israel P. O'Bryan, 24 of Newbern, TN, and Spec. William C. Yauch, 23, of Batesville, AR, were killed June 11 in Jalula when a suicide car bomb exploded near their patrol.

More than half of U.S. troops in Iraq die from noncombat injuries

In last week's listing in the Washington Post (May 18, 2010, p. A11), seven of 13 of U.S. military deaths were caused by "noncombat injuries."

Why don't we get out sooner rather than later? Barack Obama has been in office almost 18 months. Why do we have to spend American lives and see our soldiers wounded and maimed to ensure George Bush's "democracy" in a nation not our own, where we try to instill our form of government?

Reverse the nations: Consider the U.S. being bombed, attacked, and occupied for seven years by another country on a hunt for "weapons of mass destruction" and finding none, then changing the goal to "let's git 'em" and after "gittin' him," changing the goal once more to "let's set up a theocracy" or whatever.

The listing of troops who died from non-combat injuries in Iraq and the dates of their deaths were:

Staff Sgt. Richard J. Jordan, 29, Tyler Texas, March 16, 2010
Pfc. Raymond N. Pacleb, 31, Honolulu, March 29
Sgt. Kurt E. Kruize, 35, Hancock, Minn., April 4
Pfc. Charlie C. Antonio, 28, Kahului, Hawaii, April 18
Staff Sgt. Christopher D. Worrell, 35, Virginia Beach, April 22
Staff Sgt. Esau S.A. Gonzales, 30, White Deer, TX, May 3
Sgt. Ralph Mena, 27, Hutchinson, Kansas, May 4

The troops who died from combat-related injuries were:
Spec. Robert M. Rieckhoff, 27, Kenosha, Wis., killed March 18 in Baghdad
Pfc. William A. Blount, 21,Petal, Miss, and 1st Lt. Robert W. Collins, 24 of Tyrone, GA both killed April 7 in Mosul
Staff Sgt. James R. Patton, 23, Fort Benning, GA killed April 18 in Tikrit
Sgt. Keith A. Coe, 30, Auburndale, FL, killed April 27 in Khalis
Sgt. Anthony O. Magee, 29, Hattiesburg, Miss., died April 27 of wounds suffered April 24 in Iskandariyah

Another American soldier died today in Iraq. How long, Mr. President, how long? Are we going to stay in Iraq until no more American troops remain standing?

The number of U.S. troops who have died in Afghanistan has surpassed 1,000, but who is counting?

Mr. President: You are losing your base.

The Post says 4,401 U.S. troops have died in or as a result of the Iraq War including 917 from "non-hostile actions."

When is "too long" long enough?