The sun has set in Baghdad and the month has ended there. It was the best month for US troops yet in Iraq. Only 19 died. In none of the 63 months of war that we have had, have American deaths been so few.
I don’t want to minimize 19 deaths, but I do want to say that it is another sign that the war may have turned.
These are the men and women who died in May – including one who died in Canada (?):
| Date | Name | Place of Death – Province | Cause of Death |
| 30-May-2008 | NAME NOT RELEASED YET | Al Asad – Al Anbar Province | Non-hostile |
| 25-May-2008 | Sergeant Frank J. Gasper | Najaf | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack |
| Sergeant Blake W. Evans | Al Jazeera Desert – Salah Ad Din | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack | |
| Sergeant 1st Class Jason F. Dene | Baghdad | Non-hostile – injury | |
| 22-May-2008 | Private 1st Class Kyle Phillip Norris | Iskandariyah (died in Balad) – Babil | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack |
| 18-May-2008 | Private Branden P. Haunert | Tikrit – Salah Ad Din | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack |
| 15-May-2008 | Sergeant John K. Daggett | Halifax, Canada – Baghdad | Hostile – hostile fire – RPG attack |
| 14-May-2008 | Sergeant Victor M. Cota | Baghdad (Kadamiyah) | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack |
| 11-May-2008 | Corporal Jessica A. Ellis | Baghdad (northwest of) | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack |
| 10-May-2008 | Specialist Joseph A. Ford | Al Asad – Anbar | Non-hostile – vehicle accident |
| 09-May-2008 | Specialist Mary J. Jaenichen | Iskandariyah – Babil | Non-hostile – injury |
| 06-May-2008 | Private 1st Class Aaron J. Ward | Anbar Province | Hostile – hostile fire – small arms fire |
| Specialist Alex D. Gonzalez | Mosul – Ninewah | Hostile – hostile fire – small arms fire, RPG | |
| 02-May-2008 | Private Corey L. Hicks | Baghdad (eastern part) | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack |
| 01-May-2008 | Lance Corporal Casey L. Casanova | Al Anbar Province | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack |
| Corporal Miguel A. Guzman | Al Anbar Province | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack | |
| Lance Corporal James F. Kimple | Al Anbar Province | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack | |
| Sergeant Glen E. Martinez | Al Anbar Province | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack | |
| Specialist Jeffrey F. Nichols | Baghdad (central) | Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack (VBIED) |
Filed under: Uncategorized , Iraq, Politics, War
Oh, the war has definitely turned. That’s why the MSM isn’t paying much attention to it. You know. No blood. No explosions. Nothing to bash the Bush administration with. However, one of the reasons that American casualties are so low is that the Iraqi Army has now taken charge. The recent clean up in Basra and Sadr City was handled by the Iraqis themselves. Those were two of the most violent, lawless places left. Onward and upward!!
I wonder if the guy who died in Halifax was en route to some hospital in the US. It says he was wounded on May 1st but died May 15th. Interesting anomaly.
I just noticed. Four of those deaths were “non-hostile”.
[...] and the month has ended there. It was the best month for US troops yet in Iraq. Only 19 died.http://rjjago.wordpress.com/2008/05/31/may-recorded-the-fewest-american-deaths-in-iraq-so-far/Ring report Miami HeraldFIP Wrestling with former ECW/WCW/WWE/TNA star Jerry Lynn and former WWE [...]
Hi
World Have Your say is a BBC radio discussion programme – we are asking a similar question TODAY: has Iraq finally turned a corner? Interested in taking part? We broadcast live today between 1 – 2pm EST. Just email me: priya.shah@bbc.co.uk if you are.
Thanks