DoD Identifies 4 Casualties - Jan.21

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_17326.shtml

snip>Capt. Christopher J. Sullivan, 29, of Princeton, Mass., died Jan. 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his parked vehicle. Sullivan was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Pfc. Jesus Fonseca, 19, of Marietta, Ga., died Jan. 17 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his position. Fonseca was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea.

Staff Sgt. Thomas E. Vitagliano, 33, of New Haven, Conn., died Jan. 17 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his position. Vitagliano was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea.

Pfc. George R. Geer, 27, of Cortez, Colo., died Jan. 17 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his position. Geer was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea.

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[lebkuchen]

1. The 2nd ID has taken many casualties

They aren't trained properly for this mission, though neither are 40% of our soldiers in Iraq (the Guard and Reserves).

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. And how does one "train" for this mission?

Seems to me plenty of marines and regular army are getting snuffed out over there too.

[lebkuchen]

3. Many Guard/Reservists are working out of their MOS

Same with the 2ID, which, even according to Stripes, is doing duty it was not trained for. They're doing convoy escorts and policing, and are mostly dying of small arms fire and improvised explosive devices.

Yes, the active duty marine and army infantry are taking casualties, but there are a lot of variables to consider, such as the hours of combat they are engaged in.

I'm not military, so this is from what I've read and the people I've spoken to.

I can't find a site that breaks down deaths along military branch lines, but I looked back to 23 Nov. and did a tally of deaths (a very few are non-combat, but I am not distinguishing). Anyway, a slice of perspective, for what it's worth:

23 Nov 04 to present (NG/Res. are 40% of force):

NG/Reserv: 33

1st Cav: 5

5th Cav: 1

1ID: 5

2ID (Korea): 12

2nd Brig. (Korea) 4

25th ID: 12

10th Mt: 2

Army misc: 9


1st Marine Div: 19

2nd Marine Div: 9

3rd Marine Div: 2

4th Marine Div: 4

Note that the Marines have as many deaths as the NG/Reservists, and the Marines have seen heavy combat. Training helps.

If I get time, I will tally the deaths to just before Fallujah.