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L.A.'s Casualties of War - Bush's "Mistakes"
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Numbers are useful in debating our role in the second Iraq War. Sites such as IraqBodyCount.org (which provided this live ticker) have been doing the heavy lifting, combing press reports for numbers of Iraqi civilians killed since the U.S. invaded their country last March.
Other sites, such as CNN, track the numbers of coalition soldiers killed.
But just try and find a single location for numbers - and names - of Los Angeles-area men and women who died in Iraq for the sake of President Bush's trumped-up, power-mad crusade against Saddam Hussein, and his inability to plan for a way out - and you'll have to do the digging yourself. We did that for you tonight. Here, you can read the names of California's Iraq War dead and the ways they died:
A few things are striking:
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After Bush declared the "end of major combat" on May 1 (though many pundits, myself included, would say he was just lying about yet another aspect of the war), a majority of the Californians who were killed died in one of two ways: via a roadside bomb, or in a freak or non-combat accident involving vehicles or firearms.
Harry Shearer pointed out in his dry-acid-martini manner on Sunday morning's Le Show that the president seemed at a loss for words at last week's press conference when asked to identify the mistakes he had made in Iraq.
"I'm sure the answer's gonna pop into my head any moment," Bush stammered, as though woken in his civics class by a thunk on the head from a teacher's well-aimed eraser.
Well, here's a possible answer, Mr. President, as far as greater L.A. and California are concerned.
They ranged from 18-year-old kids killed in vehicle wrecks to 40- and 50-year-old senior officers cut down in firefights. Because they were trusting, valued patriots who believe in fighting for what their nation's leaders tell them is right, they died for you. Like all casualties of war, they were someone's son, brother, father, sister or daughter.
These are the names of your mistakes:
(Note - Los Angeles-area residents are noted with a ¤ , the remaining California casualties with a simple . If you see someone missing from the list, please let me know in a comment below.)
March 21
¤ Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, 22, of Los Angeles, killed in combat in southern Iraq
March 22
Lt. Thomas Mullen Adams, 27, of La Mesa, killed when two British helicopters collided over the Persian Gulf
March 23
Cpl. Jose A. Garibay, 21, of Orange, killed in action near Nasiriyah
¤ Cpl. Jorge Gonzalez, 20, of Los Angeles, killed in action near Nasiriyah
Sgt. Michael E. Bitz, 31, of Ventura, killed in action near Nasiriyah
Cpl. Randal Kent Rosacker, 21, of San Diego, killed in action near Nasiriyah
March 25
¤ Pfc. Francisco A. Martinez Flores, 21, of Los Angeles, killed during convoy operations near the Euphrates River
Lance Cpl. Patrick T. O'Day, 20, of Santa Rosa, killed during convoy operations near the Euphrates River
March 27
Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Menusa, 33, of San Jose, killed in action
Lance Cpl. Jesus A. Suarez del Solar, 20, of Escondido, killed when he stepped on an unexploded U.S. cluster bomblet in southern Iraq
April 2
Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Smith, 41 (of California, no town given), killed in the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter in Central Iraq
April 3
Erik. H Shull, 22, of Chula Vista, killed in action
April 4
Private Devon Jones, 19, of San Diego, killed when his vehicle fell into a ravine
April 8
Staff Sgt. William M. Harrell, 30, of Placentia, died due to injuries received in hostile fire in Al Anbar province
¤ Sgt. 1st Class John W. Marshall, 50, of Los Angeles, killed when he was hit by an RPG in an ambush in Baghdad
April 12
Cpl. Jesus A. Gonzalez, 22, of Indio, killed while manning a checkpoint
April 24
Sgt. Troy Jenkins, 25 of Ridgecrest, of injuries received April 19 while on dismounted patrol
April 25
1st Lt. Osbaldo Orozco, 26, of Delano, killed in a vehicle accident.
May 12
¤ A lance corporal and a private first class are killed when ordnance they are handling explodes.
[Jakub Henryk Kowalik, 21, Schaumburg, IL; Pfc. Jose Franci Gonzalez Rodriguez, 19, Norwalk]
May 15
A corporal is killed when a large transport truck in which he's riding rolls over.
[Douglas Jose Marenco-Reyes, 28, Chino]
June 3, 2003
¤ A sergeant is killed by gunfire and grenades in a checkpoint ambush.
[Atanasio Haro Marin Jr., 27, Baldwin Park] June 3
¤ A specialist is killed when a rocket-propelled grenade hits an ambulance in which his crew is transporting a wounded soldier.
[Paul T. Nakamura, 21, Santa Fe Springs]
June 26
Spc. Andrew F. Chris, 25 (California, no city given), killed when his vehicle passed a car bomb in southern Baghdad
July 9, 2003
A lance corporal is killed in a vehicle accident in Kuwait.
[Jason Andrew Tetrault, 20, Moreno Valley]
July 15
A lance corporal falls 60 feet to his death while standing guard on a palace roof.
[Cory Ryan Geurin, 18, Santee]
Summer, 2003 - date not reported
Capt. David LaMont, 31, of Eureka, killed when a CH46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in the Shatt Al Hillah Canal
Lance Cpl. Jason William Moore, 21, of San Marcos, killed when a CH46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in the Shatt Al Hillah Canal
July 24
¤ Sgt. Evan Asa Ashcraft, 24, of West Hills, killed when an RPG struck his vehicle in an ambush of a military convoy north of Hawd
Aug. 10
A staff sergeant is killed when a suspicious package dropped off at police headquarters explodes while he's inspecting it.
[David S. Perry, 36, Bakersfield]
Aug. 12
A private first class is killed when he's thrown from a vehicle after the driver swerves to avoid an Iraqi motorist.
[Daniel R. Parker, 18, Lake Elsinore]
August 21
A lieutenant is shot to death while sitting in an SUV during a traffic jam, and the gunman escapes into a crowded market.
[Kylan A. Jones-Huffman, 31, Aptos]
August 25
A private first class is killed by a gunshot wound to the chest in a non-combat incident.
[Pablo Manzano, 19, Heber]
October 9
A staff sergeant and a private are killed in an ambush.
[Christopher W. Swisher, 26, Lincoln NE; Sean A. Silva, 23, Roseville]
October 13
¤ A specialist and a private first class are killed when an Iraqi garbage truck swerves out of control, rolls over, and lands atop their Hummer.
[Douglas J. Weismantle, 28, Pittsburgh PA; Jose Casanova, 23, El Monte]
October 16
¤ A lieutenant colonel, a staff sergeant, and a corporal are shot to death by gunmen who are guarding the headquarters of a Shiite cleric.
[Kim S. Orlando, 43, Nashville TN; Joseph P. Bellavia, 28, Wakefield MA; Sean R. Grilley, 24, San Bernardino]
October 24
A sergeant is killed in a gun battle while guarding a grain-storage facility.
[Michael S. Hancock, 29, Yreka]
¤ Two specialists are killed by a mortar attack.
[Artimus D. Brassfield, 22, Flint MI; Jose L. Mora, 26, Bell Gardens]
October 26
A private first class dies from a non-combat gunshot.
[Steven Acosta, 19, Calexico]
October 31
A second lieutenant is killed on patrol by a homemade bomb.
[Todd J. Bryant, 23, Riverside]
November 2
Pfc. Karina S. Lau, 20, of Livingston, aboard a Chinook helicopter when it crashes near Fallujah.
November 8
A sergeant is fatally wounded when a homemade bomb hits his vehicle, after which he's flown to the United States, where he dies December 2.
[Ryan C. Young, 21, Corona]
November 11
A specialist is killed on patrol when his Bradley vehicle hits and explodes two homemade bombs.
[Genaro Acosta, 26, Fair Oaks]
November 17
Capt. James A. Shull, 32 (of California, no town given), killed by a non-hostile gunshot wound near Baghdad
November 15
¤ Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Bolor, 37, of Whittier, killed when two Black Hawk helicopters collided over Mosul
November 23
¤ A command sergeant major and a specialist die of gunshot wounds to the head after their car isstopped by another vehicle, they're shot at, they're pulled out of their vehicle, and their possessions are looted.
[Jerry L. Wilson, 45, Thomson GA; Rel A. Ravago IV, 21, Glendale]
¤ A staff sergeant is killed when a truck he's driving is blown up by a remote-controlled roadside bomb.
[Eddie E. Menyweather, 35, Los Angeles]
¤ A chief warrant officer is killed when the vehicle in which he's a passenger is accidentally struck head-on by a civilian tanker truck.
[Christopher G. Nason, 39, Los Angeles]
November 29
A specialist and a staff sergeant are killed when their convoy is ambushed.
[Aaron J. Sissel, 22, Tipton IA; Stephen A. Bertolino, 40, El Cajon]
December 5
A specialist is killed on a convoy when a homemade bomb explodes.
[Arron R. Clark, 20, Chico]
December 3
Staff. Sgt. Steven H. Bridges, 33, of Tracy, killed when an embankment collapsed, causing his Stryker infantry carrier to roll over into a canal in Ad Duluiyah
December 10
A staff sergeant is killed when his convoy vehicle is hit by a homemade bomb.
[Richard A. Burdick, 24, National City]
December 26
A specialist is killed off duty when his Hummer overturns and he's crushed to death.
[Michael G. Mihalakis, 18, Milpitas]
December 30
¤ A specialist is shot to death when a rifle accidentally goes off .
[Justin W. Pollard, 21, Foothill Ranch]
January 7
A private first class is killed when a mortar round hits his living quarters.
[Jesse D. Mizener, 24, Auburn]
January 8
¤ Spc. Michael A. Diraimondo, 21, of Simi Valley, when the Blackhawk helicopter he was aboard during a medevac operation was shot down in Fallujah.
January 14
A sergeant is killed when she is hit by a vehicle at an airfield.
[Keicia M. Hines, 27, Citrus Heights]
January 24
¤ Two specialists and a sergeant are killed by a car bomb.
[Jason K. Chappell, 22, Hemet, CA; William R. Sturges Jr., 24, Spring Church PA; Randy S. Rosenberg, 23, Berlin NH]
January 31
Sgt. Eliu A. Miersandoval, 27, of San Clemente, killed by a roadside bomb as his convoy passed through Kirkuk.
February 5
A master sergeant is fatally injured in a vehicle accident in Qatar and dies five days later.
[Jude C. Mariano, 39, Vallejo]
February 11
A sergeant and a private first class are killed on patrol by a homemade bomb.
[Patrick S. Tainsh, 33, Oceanside CA; William C. Ramirez, 19, Portland OR]
February 12
A specialist is killed when his unit is attacked by small-arms fire, a rocket-propelled grenade, and a homemade bomb.
[Eric U. Ramirez, 31, San Diego]
March 11
Spc Christopher K. Hill, 26, of Ventura, killed when his vehicle hit a homemade bomb in Fallujah
March 13
A sergeant first class, a sergeant, and a private first class are killed when a homemade bomb hits their vehicle.
[Clint D. Ferrin, 31, Picayune MS; Daniel J. Londono, 22, Boston MA; Joel K. Brattain, 21, Santa Ana]
March 20
Maj. Mark D. Taylor, 41, in a rocket attack in Fallujah.
March 22
Andrew Dang, 22, San Mateo, hit by hostile fire while on patrol.
March 20
1st. Lt. Michael W. Vega, 41, of injuries received 9 days earlier when his his military vehicle rolled on top of him during fighting with Iraqi insurgents near Diwaniyah
April 4
Sgt. Michael W. Mitchell, 25, of Porterville, killed when his vehicle was hit by RPG and small arms fire in Baghdad
Spc. Casey Sheehan, 24, of Vacaville, killed when his vehicle was hit by RPG and small arms fire in Baghdad
April 6
Lance Cpl. Travis J. Layfield, 19, of Fremont - killed in a long firefight in Fallujah,
Lance Cpl. Marcus M. Cherry, of Imperial - killed in a long firefight in Fallujah
Lance Pl. Kyle D. Crowley, 18, of San Ramon - killed in a long firefight in Fallujah
April 8
1st Lt. Joshua M. Palmer, 25, of Banning, died of injuries received in hostile fire in Al Anbar
April 9
Pfc. Eric A. Ayon, 26, of Arleta - killed by hostile fire in Al Anbar Province
April 11, 2004
1st Lt. Oscar Jimenez, 34, of San Diego killed in enemy fire in Al Anbar Province
¤ PFC George D. Torres, 23, of Long Beach, killed in enemy fire in Al Anbar Province
April 12
Lance Cpl. Brad S. Shuder, 21, of El Dorado, killed by hostile fire in Al Anbar Province
April 13
Staff Sgt. Victor A. Rosales, 29, of Westminster, killed when a homemade bomb exploded near his escort vehicle
Sources: CNN.com, IraqBodyCount.org, VillageVoice.com
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| Posted by: mack_reed on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 12:44 AM
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