The Republican’s War: Thank you, George!

Harring Report: The National Young Men’s Meat Grinder

‘God and Soldiers we implore…

In times of need, but not before’

by Brian Harring, Domestic Intelligence Reporter brianharring@yahoo.com

Note: Viewers of TBR News who would like a copy of the original DoD Supplementary Casualty lists, showing the actual military deaths from March 2003 through July, 2005 as taken from their official site (now deleted) and showing over 10,000 actual deaths, can obtain these facsimiles directly from Mr. Harring by sending him an email message at: brianharring@yahoo.com  ( As of January 12, 2007, Mr. Harring has sent out over 23,508 lists. Ed )

Photo AFP

"The essential act of war is destruction, not necessarily of human lives, but of the products of human labour. War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking in the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable, and hence, in the long run, too intelligent. Even when weapons of war are not actually destroyed, their manufacture is still a convenient way of expending labour power without producing anything that can be consumed".

George Orwell, ‘1984’

“Whether war is a necessary factor in the evolution of mankind may be disputed, but a fact which cannot be questioned is that, from the earliest records of man to the present age, war has been his dominant preoccupation. There has never been a period in human history altogether free from war, and seldom one of more than a generation which has not witnessed a major conflict: great wars flow and ebb almost as regularly as the tides. This becomes more noticeable when a civilization ages and begins to decay, as seemingly is happening to our world-wide industrial civilization. Whereas but a generation or two back, war was accepted as an instrument of policy, it has now become policy itself.”

General J.F.C. Fuller, 1954

The Bush/Cheney Butcher’s Bill: Officially, 21 US Military Deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan from 1January –11 January 2007- Official Total of 3,311 US dead to date (and rising) The actual total of dead American military personnel is now over 15,000 and also rising, and the number of seriously wounded is now ca 27,000.

It should be noted that the death toll in October, 2006, 112, was the highest  to date. The previous highest number since the beginning of the war was 108 in 2005. It has now been matched.

An insurgent mortar attack on Camp Falcon in southern Baghdad on October 11-12, 2006 caused stored ammunition to explode and initial reports indicate over 300 officially unreported casualties, dead and wounded. Because of a continuing demand for a reprint of this story, it is attached herewith. Ed

Forward Base Falcon Disaster

October 15, 2006

by Brian Harring

Late on the evening of October 10, 2006, Iraqi resistance groups lobbed mortar and rocket rounds into the immense ‘Forward Base Falcon,’ the largest American military base in Iraq. In addition to accurate mortar fire, Grad and Katyusha rockets were also used.

Falcon base was designed to house a large contingent of American troops, mostly drawn from the 4^th Infantry Division, stationed at Fr. Bliss, Texas. At the time of the attack, there were approximately 3000 men inside the camp, which also was filled with ammunition supplies, fuel, tanks and vehicles.

Iraqi contractors had assisted in the construction of the camp, which occupied nearly a square mile and was surrounded with guard tower-studded high concrete walls, and it is now apparent that the Resistance movement had been given important targets from “sources familiar with the layout” of the base.

After the initial shelling, fuel and ammunition stores began to erupt with massive explosions that could be heard, and seen, miles away inside the Green Zone where U.S. military and diplomatic units were heavily guarded.

The explosions, all of them termed “immense” by BBC reporters, continued throughout the night.

In response, US aircraft indiscriminately  rocketed and bombed various parts of the city, BBC and AFP correspondents reported, trying to knock out the launch sites of the rockets

The BBC's Andrew North, in Baghdad, said the explosions started at about 2300 (2100 BST) and were becoming "ever more frequent" as the huge fires spread throughout the base, punctuated by tremendous explosions as more fuel and ammunition dumps ignited.

“Intelligence indicates that civilians aligned with a militia organization were responsible for last night’s mortar attack,” said Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Withington, spokesman for the U.S. 4th Infantry Division.

An after action report, issued by the Department of Defense, stated that: “On October 10, 2006, at approximately 10:40 p.m., a 82mm mortar round, fired by militia forces from a residential area in Abu T-Shir, caused a fire at an Ammunition Supply Point (ASP) at FOB Falcon. The ASP, containing tank and artillery rounds, in addition to smaller caliber ammunition, set off a series of large explosions. About 100 troops from the 4th Infantry Division were reported to be stationed at the base at the time, but no injuries were reported.”  (Emphasis added.) "The damage to the area will not degrade the operational capability of MND-B (Multinational Division Baghdad),"

When the flames had been brought under control on the morning of the 11^th of October, primarily because the entire camp had been gutted, nine large American military transports with prominent Red Cross markings were observed by members of the foreign media taking off, laded with the dead and the wounded.

Over 300 American troops, including U.S. Army and Marines, CIA agents and U.S. translators were killed or injured or died immediately afterwards en route to hospital or in hospital and 165 seriously injured requiring major medical attention and 39 suffering lesser injuries  122 members of the Iraqi armed forces were killed and 90 seriously injured members of same, were also evacuated to the U.S. military hospital at al-Habbaniyah located some 70km west of Baghdad.

Satellite pictures from neutral sources showed that Camp Falcon was almost totally destroyed and with it, almost all the U.S. military’s supply of small arms ammunition, artillery and rocket rounds, tons of fuel, six Apache helicopters, an uncounted but large number of soft-skinned vehicles such as Humvees and supply trucks. Foreign press observers noted “an endless parade” of military vehicle recovery units dragging burnt-out heavy tanks and armored personnel carriers to another base outside Baghdad.

The walls and towers of the camp were completely leveled as were all the barracks, maintenance depots, the huge mess halls that could hold 3000 soldiers, the huge recreation center with its basketball courts and indoor swimming pools and all the administration buildings

Although official U.S. DoD statements indicated that there were no deaths, that only a hundred men were inside the base guarding billions of dollars of vital military equipment and that there were “only two minor injuries to personnel,” the truth is far different.

Not only has the U.S. military machine lost most of its armor and transport, its entire reserves of ammunition and special fuel, but the casualty list for only the first day is immense.

Here is a transcription of that list minus the many burn victims who were evacuated to other hospital units:.

In re: Insurgent attacks on Forward Base Falcon on 10-11 October, 2006

Official Casualty List from U.S. military hospital at al-Habbaniyah located some 70km west of Baghdad. U.S. medical personnel at al-Habbaniyah initially stated that the US military hospital at the massive American-occupied air base there had begun to receive dead and wounded personnel. The military hospital in al-Habbaniyah,  the largest in occupied Iraq, was opened on 12 May this year in response to sharply rising (and redacted)  US casualties.

List compiled and effective as of  11 Oct 06 at 2300. Burn victims are listed separately

– A -

Pfc James R. Adams, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Captain Kenneth Adler, Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

Pfc Bobby Ray Albertson , Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

1^st Lt. Keith Allen, Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

Spc Cletus Anderson, 204^th Support Battalion, 2^nd Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division

Lance Cpl John Martin Ansley, Marine Forces Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment

Spc Toby Anthony, National Guard's 149th Brigade Combat Team

Pfc Gustavo Armijo, 57th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade

Pfc Michael Armstrong, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Capt Steven Arnold, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

James Arthur  Ash II, Central Intelligence Agency

Cpl Edward Atkinson, 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade

– B –

Pfc Roy Bailey, National Guard's 149th Brigade Combat Team

Spc John Baldwin, 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade

Pfc Charles Barbe,  Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

Pfc Thomas Barnhart , 204^th Support Battalion, 2^nd Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division

Pfc James Barry, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Capt Robert Bell, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Spc William Bennett , Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

Pfc Saul Benson, 549th Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion

Pfc Joseph Berge, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

Pfc Joseph Berkeley , 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Capt Colmar Betts,  414th Civil Affairs

Zack Billings, Department of Defense

Edward Blair,, Civilian Contractor

1^sst Lt. Ronald Bort, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

Pfc Bowen, James, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Pfc Thomas R. Boyd, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Spc Mel Brewer, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Master Sgt. Roger Brown , 204^th Support Battalion, 2^nd Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division

Pfc Francis Byrne,  Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

– C -

Pfc Arthur Cahill, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Pfc Fernando Calderon, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Alex Callaghan, Civilian Contractor

Pfc Peter Campbell,  Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

Cpl Douglas Carmody,  118th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade

Pfc Ashanti Carter, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Henry Cartwright, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

Pfc Ken Casey,  3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Russell Cavanaugh, 57th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade

Spc Raymond Chamberlain, 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade

Pfc Einar Christiansen, 414th Civil Affairs

Spc Zack Christopher,  7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Eric Clark, 549th Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion

Ronald Colby, Civilian Contractor

Pfc Marcus M. Cole, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Paul Collins, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Pfc Rory Conner, Department of Defense

Pfc Roger Connolly, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Major Michael Connors,  414th Civil Affairs

Steven Cooke, Department of Defense

Spc Matthew Cooper,  Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Edward C. Courtney, Central Intelligence Agency

Capt Jimmy Lee Craig,  Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

Spc Samuel Cramer, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

Pfc Micah Creighton,  Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

Spc Leonard Cunningham,  3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Paul E. Curtis, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

– D -

Pfc Sebastian Daly, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division

1^st Lt. Benjamin Davis, 57th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade

Raymond Day, Civilian Contractor

Pfc Justin Delaney, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Christopher Dixon , Marine Forces Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment

Cpl Paul Doherty, 414th Civil Affairs

Pfc Nicholas Dolan, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Lawrence Donahue, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Pfc Randall Douglas, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Carl Dowd , Civilian Contractor

Master Sgt. Phillip Doyle, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

Pfc Edmund Drake, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Spc Charles Duval, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division

– E -

Spc Brandon East , Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Pfc Jeremy Edwards, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Shane Elkins, 549th Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion

Edgar Elliott , Central Intelligence Agency

Pfc Ronald Ellis, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

2nd Lt. Paul H. Etheridge, 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Sgt Kenny Evans, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

– F –

Cpl Thomas Fairchild, Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

Pfc Ben Farrell, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Robert Feeney,  1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Angus Ferguson, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Lance Cpl Eetaban Fernandez, Marine Forces Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment

Spc Bradford Fields , , Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

Pfc Raymond, Finlay, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Major Eduard Fischer, 414th Civil Affairs

Pfc Kirk Fitzgerald, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

Arnold Flynn, Civilian Contractor

1^st Lt. Gene Ford, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

Pfc Scott Fort, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Capt Shelby Foster, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Pfc Jon Franklin, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Spc Harold Frederickson, 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade

Pfc Lawrence Frost, 204^th Support Battalion, 2^nd Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division

– G –

Pfc Michael Gaines, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Christopher Gallagher,  National Guard's 149th Brigade Combat Team

Pfc  Israel GarciaRogelio R. Garza, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Pfc Daniel Gardner, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Brad Garrison , Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

Lance Cpl Kirk Geary, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force

Pfc Randy Geohegan, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Adam Gibson, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Master Sgt. Richard M. Gilligan, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Paolo Giovinazzo,  4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Jeffery Givens, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

Cpl Mario Gold, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

2nd Lt.Pedro Gomez, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Michael Gordon , 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Gabriel Govia, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Thomas Grady,  Department of Defense

Pfc Kevin Graham, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Pfc Paul Gray, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Samuel Green, Marine Forces Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment

Pfc Lloyd Griffith, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Cpl Andrew Gustafson, Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

– H –

1^st Lt. Seth Hall, , Marine Forces Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment

Pfc Tobias Hancock,  1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc James Hansen, 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Sgt Stuart Harding , 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Randy Hardy, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Pfc Ronald Harris, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

Pfc Keith O. Harvey, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

1^st Lt.Karl Hawkins, 414th Civil Affairs

Sgt. 1st Class Samuell Hayden, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Randi Hays, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Ben Henderson, 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade

Pfc Kyle Henry, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Spc Danid D.Herron, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

Capt Kenneth Hilliard, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc John Hodge, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

2nd Lt. Lee Hoffman, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Master Sgt. David Hoke, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Pfc Ted Holmes, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Kenny Howard, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

– I-

Keith Ingraham, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

Pfc Daniel Innis, 204^th Support Battalion, 2^nd Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division

Cpl Shane Irving, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

– J –

Pfc Tarrnish Jackson, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

Spc Lewellen Jacobs, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Timothy Jasper, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

1^st Lt .Larry Jenkins, 414th Civil Affairs

2nd Lt. Phiillip Johnson, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

Pfc Brian Johnstone, Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

Pfc Todd Jones, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

Pfc Brendan Joscelyn, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

2nd Lt.Cpl Allan Jose, 57th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade

Pfc Thomas Joyce, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

Spc Benno Juarez, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

– K-

1^st Lt. Eric Kaufman, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Charles Kavanaugh , Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

Cpl Jon Keats,  67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Eric Keefe, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Tony Keeler, 118th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade

Pfc Chester Keenan, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

Pfc Frank Kennedy, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Jon Kent, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Sgt Jordan Kessler, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Capt Mark King , 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Neil Kirk, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Spc Jeff Klein, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Alan Knoll, 57th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade

.Pfc Adam Koehler, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Capt  Osmond Kray, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

2nd Lt. Gary Krueger, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

– L –

Tracey LaFaver , Civilian Contractor

Lance Cpl Roger Lafferty,  Marine Forces Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment

Pfc Junior Lambert, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Shawn Lane, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Cpl Charles T. Langholz, 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Jimmy Bob Larkin, National Guard's 149th Brigade Combat Team

Pfc Eric Larsen, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

Sgt. 1st Class Robert Law, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Spc Andrew Richard, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Ricardo LeGallo, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

2nd Lt. William S. Leonard,  2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force

Pfc Marshal Lindsley,  Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

Master Sgt. Tommy Lee Lipton, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc George Long, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Jimmy Longtree, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

1^st Lt. Jasper Loomis, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Pfc Carstairs Lowe, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Robert M. Lynch, Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

– M –

Pfc Paul McKinnon , 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Keith MacVane, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Gunnar Magnusson, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Capt.Martin Mahoney, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Enzo Marini, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Rostan Markovic, Central Intelligence Agency

Spc John M. Marshall, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

Pfc Michael Martin, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Pfc Scott Marvin, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

Pfc Leroy Mason, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Spc Greg Mathews, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Duncan Maxwell, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Brian Mayer, 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade

Arthur Mazzocco, Department of Defense

1^st Lt. Joseph McAllister, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Master Sgt. Daniel McBride, . 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc William McClellan, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force

Spc Lou McConnell, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Sgt. 1st Class Albert McGinnis,. 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Master Sgt.David McRae, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Matthew Medigovich, Central Intelligence Agency

Pfc Vincent Mendoza, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

Cpl Richard Milich, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Pfc Ben Miller, 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade

Cpl Robert Mitchell, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Terrence Mogen, 118th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade

Pfc Ted Montague, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

Pfc Yates Montecino, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Esteban Morales, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

Pfc Darrell Morgan, Central Intelligence Agency

Jeffery Morrison, Civilian Contractor

– N –

1^st Lt. Noble Natsios, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Carlos Naverez, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

Sgt. 1st Class Edward Nelson , 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Cpl Donald Newcomb, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Roger Newell, Civilian Contractor

Pfc Dorin Nicholson, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Bart Nolan, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Nelson Norton, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Wally Novak, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

– O –

1^st Lt. Chris O’Brien , 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Stephen O’Connor, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Raymond O’Rourke, Civilian Contractor

– P –

Spc James W. Page,  4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Russell Palumbo, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Pfc Nicholas Pappas, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Troy Parker, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Thomas Parrish, Civilian Contractor

Pfc Mark Patten, 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade

George Paul, Civilian Contractor

Lance Cpl Wallace Peabody,  2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine        Expeditionary Force

Pfc Dale Peake, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Reed Perry, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

Pfc Samuel Petersen, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Roger Platt, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

1^st Lt. Thomas Poole, 57th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade

Pfc William Porter, 118th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade

Sgt Daniel Powell, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Todd Price, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Cpl Kevin Prisley, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Peter Purvis, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

– Q –

2nd Lt. Quesada, Gonzalo, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

Pfc Liam Quinn, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

– R –

Pfc Chad Railey, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Ignacio Ramirez,  Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Pfc Arthur Ramsen, Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

Benjamin Raymond, Civilian Contractor

Spc Todd Reckford, 204^th Support Battalion, 2^nd Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division

Pfc Aaron Reynolds, 57th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade

Pfc Timothy Richard, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

1^st Lt. Paul Richardson, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Robert Riley, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Shawn Roberts, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Cpl Kirk Robinson, National Guard's 149th Brigade Combat Team

Sgt. 1st Class James P. Rodgers, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Master Sgt. Chad Romer, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Martin Ross, 118th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade

Pfc Robert Rowan, 204^th Support Battalion, 2^nd Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division

2nd Lt. Seth Ryan, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

– S –

Spc Ricardo Sagan, 118th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade

Pfc Hector Salazar, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Ed Sampson, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

1^st Lt Walter San Fellipo, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Bruce Sartiano,, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Raymond Schmitz, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

2nd Lt.Ernest Sherman , 57th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade

Pfc Mario Sims, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Joshua Smith, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Andrew Snow, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

Gerald Sorenson, Department of Defense

Lincoln Stadermann, Translator

Master Sgt. Michael Stephenson, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Carl Stone,, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

Capt. Harold Sullivan, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

1^st Lt. Lawrence Swenson, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

– T –

Cpl Augustus Tanner, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

Pfc Reginald Tate, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Duane Taylor, 118th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade

Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Thomas, 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Stuart Thompsen, 57th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade

Spc Larry Thomson, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Capt David Towers, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Pfc Dean Townsend, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

2nd Lt. James Tracy, Army Reserve 346th Psychological Operations Company

Pfc Paul Tucker, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Daniel Tyson, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

– U –

Pfc Romillo Ugarte, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

Cpl Austin Unger, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

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Spc Ramon Valadez,  1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Hector Velazquez,  Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Spc Walter Vincent, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

2nd Lt.ThomasVoelker, 204^th Support Battalion, 2^nd Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division

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Spc Carl Wade, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Walker, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Ronald Walsh,, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Jack Ward, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

Cpl Sean Weber, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Pfc Steven Webster, Army National Guard’s 35th Special Troops Battalion

Spc Paul Welch, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Capt.Gene Westin, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Master Sgt.Richard Wheeler, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

Pfc Lawrence White, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Andrew Willams, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Sgt. 1st Class Mario Williamson, Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company

Russell Wilson, Translator

Michael Wisniewski, Civilian Employee

Cpl Chris Womack, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Burton Wood, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile UnitTwo

-Y -

Cpl Fernando Yates, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Istvan Yatsevitch, Civilian Contractor

Cpl John York,  4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Peter Young, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

– Z –

Pfc Mario Zammarella, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Cpl Jose Zamora, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Spc Reuben Zamora, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc Arno Ziegler, 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion

1^st Lt.Charles L. Zimmerman, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

Comment: Following the publication of this article, the confirming material on Google suddenly vanished and the public was treated to a number of idiotic statements from the DoD. According to our National Shield, we were told that Falcon was very small (it is very large), that no damage was done by a ‘minor explosion of old flares’ (ten hours of massive explosions that could be heard, and seen, twenty miles away speaks volumes to the force of our flares0, in spite of the ferocity and duration of the blasts, no one was injured or killed (of course not), and the military hospital mentioned never existed (yes, Virginia, it did, and does. You can find reference on this on the DoD websites unless, like so many other things, it has been discreetly removed) There is a very certain way that one can tell when a DoD spokesperson is telling a lie: Their lips move like Tony Snow’s.  BH

Mr. President, why don’t you pull out…like your father should have? Brian Harring

Note: There is excellent reason to believe that the Department of Defense is deliberately not reporting a significant number of the dead in Iraq. We have received copies of manifests from the MATS that show far more bodies shipped into Dover AFP than are reported officially. The actual death toll is in excess of 10,000. (See the official records at the end of this piece.) Given the officially acknowledged number of over 15,000 seriously wounded (and a published total of 25,000 wounded overall,), this elevated death toll is far more realistic than the current 2,000+ now being officially published. When our research is complete, and watertight, we will publish the results along with the sources In addition to the evident falsification of the death rolls, at least 5,500 American military personnel have deserted, most in Ireland but more have escaped to Canada and other European countries, none of whom are inclined to cooperate with vengeful American authorities. (See TBR News of 18 February for full coverage on the mass desertions) This means that of the 158,000 U.S. military shipped to Iraq, 30,000 deserted, were killed or seriously wounded. The DoD lists currently being very quietly circulated indicate over12,000 dead, over 25,000 seriously wounded and a large number of suicides, forced hospitalization for ongoing drug usage and sales, murder of Iraqi civilians and fellow soldiers, rapes, courts martial and so on –

The government gets away with these huge lies because they claim, falsely, that only soldiers actually killed on the ground in Iraq are reported. The dying and critically wounded are listed as en route to military hospitals outside of the country and not reported on the daily postings. Anyone who dies just as the transport takes off from the Baghdad airport is not listed and neither are those who die in the US military hospitals. Their families are certainly notified that their son, husband, brother or lover was dead and the bodies, or what is left of them (refrigeration is very bad in Iraq what with constant power outages) are shipped home, to Dover AFB. This, we note, was the overall policy until very recently. Since it became well known that many had died at Landstuhl, in Germany, the DoD began to list a very few soldiers who had died at other non-theater locations. These numbers are only for show and are pathetically small in relationship to the actual figures. You ought to realize that President Bush personally ordered that no pictures be taken of the coffined and flag-draped dead under any circumstances. He claims that this is to comfort the bereaved relatives but is designed to keep the huge number of arriving bodies secret. Any civilian, or military personnel, taking pictures will be jailed at once and prosecuted. Bush has never attended any kind of a memorial service for his dead soldiers and never will. He is terrified lest some parent might curse him in front of the press or, worse, attack him. As Bush is a terrible physical coward and in a constant state of denial, this is not a surprise.

Official Casualty List for January, 2007

2

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  They died Dec. 29 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations .Killed were:Sgt. Lawrence J. Carter, 25, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. Pfc. William R. Newgard, 20, of Arlington Heights, Ill.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

3

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Spc. Luis G. Ayala, 21, of South Gate, Calif., died Dec. 28 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol. Ayala was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. Alan R. Blohm, 21, of Kenai, Alaska, died Dec. 31 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol. Blohm was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  They died Dec. 31 in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated while they were conducting a combat patrol.  Both soldiers were assigned to the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas .Killed were: Cpl. Jonathan E. Schiller, 20, of Ottumwa, Iowa. Spc. Richard A. Smith, 20, of Grand Prairie, Texas.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. John M. Sullivan, 22, of Hixon, Tenn., died Dec. 30 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on combat patrol. Sullivan was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

4

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pvt. David E. Dietrich, 21, of Marysville, Pa., died Dec. 29 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire while on combat patrol. Dietrich was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Thomas E. Vandling Jr., 26, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died Jan. 1 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on combat patrol.  Vandling was assigned to the 303rd Psychological Operations Company, Oakdale, Pa., a subordinate unit of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

7

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sgt. Charles D. Allen, 28, of Wasilla, Alaska, died Jan. 4 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

8

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three airmen who were killed Jan. 7 by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while performing duties in the Baghdad area supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The airmen were assigned to the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Killed were: Tech. Sgt. Timothy R. Weiner, 35, of Tamarac, Fla., Senior Airman Elizabeth A. Loncki, 23, of New Castle, Del., Senior Airman Daniel B. Miller Jr., 24, Galesburg, Ill.

9

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.Cpl. Jeremiah J. Johnson, 23, of Vancouver, Wash., died Jan. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle rolled over Dec. 26 in Baghdad.  Johnson was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

10

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Aron C. Blum, 22, of Tucson, Ariz., died Dec. 28 at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, Calif., of a non-hostile cause after being evacuated from Al Anbar province, Iraq, on Dec. 8.  Blum was assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. James M. Wosika Jr., 24, of St. Paul, Minn., died Jan. 9 in Fallujah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol.  Wosika was assigned to the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, Crookston, Minn.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Spc. Eric T. Caldwell, 22, of Salisbury, Md., died Jan 7 in Iraq of wounds sustained when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.Spc. Raymond N. Mitchell, III, 21, of West Memphis, Ark., died Jan 6 in Baghdad, Iraq of wounds sustained during route security operations.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

11

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.Pfc. Ming Sun, 20, of Cathedral City, Calif., died Jan. 9 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat patrol operations.  Sun was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Pfc. Ryan R. Berg, 19, of Sabine Pass, Texas, died Jan. 9 in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire. Berg was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Maj. Michael L. Mundell, 47, of Brandenburg, Ky., died Jan. 5 in Fallujah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. Mundell was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 108th Division (Institutional Training), Spartanburg, S.C.

Military Eases Its Rules for Mobilizing Reserves

January 12, 2007
by David S. Cloud
New York Times

WASHINGTON,  The Pentagon announced steps Thursday to make more reservists available for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan by changing the policies that govern how often members of the Army National Guard and Reserve can be mobilized.

The new rules mean that individual Guard members and entire units that have already been deployed in the last five years may be called up again for as long as 24 consecutive months, officials said. In practice, the Pentagon intends to try to limit future mobilizations to no more than a year, once every five years, Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters.

The policy change was brought on by the prolonged American troop commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and military officials said it would have been necessary even if President Bush had not decided to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq.

The change, announced by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates at a White House news conference, will enable the Bush administration to call up tens of thousands of Guard members who were off limits under the previous rules, without having to issue another politically delicate mobilization order.

The decision to send five active-duty combat brigades to Iraq in the next few months means the Army will need to call up National Guard combat brigades that have already done one-year tours in Iraq, and to do so sooner, officials said.

A senior military official said that by "this time next year," the Pentagon "probably will be calling again on Guard units that have previously done combat tours."

General Pace told reporters that some of the Guard units “that will be mobilized in the coming period will not have had five years since their last mobilization.” Some, he said will have been home for four years and some for only three.

Until now, the Defense Department’s policy on employing Guard and Reserve units was that soldiers’ time on active duty could not exceed a cumulative total of 24 months in any five-year period. Under the new rules, the cumulative limit is removed.

The result, officials said, is that soldiers who have already done a tour in Iraq in the last five years can now be sent back to Iraq if their entire unit is remobilized. The goal of limiting deployments to a year is meant to offset the burden on Guard members, who must leave civilian jobs to serve.

Until now, many members of the Army National Guard, which has an authorized total strength of 350,000 soldiers, have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan as individuals, sometimes for 18 months or longer. Mr. Gates said the Pentagon would now mobilize units, not individuals. Any soldiers who have already done tours will again be eligible, regardless of previous deployments, if their units are called into service.

National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Mobilized as of January, 3, 2007

This week, the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a increase, while the Navy number remained the same. The net collective result is 2,962 more reservists mobilized than last week.

At any given time, services may mobilize some units and individuals while demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. Total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 76,089; Navy Reserve, 4,921; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 5,326; Marine Corps Reserve, 5,574; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 358. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel, who have been mobilized, to 92,268, including both units and individual augmentees.