A dismaying increase in death rate of U.S. troops in Iraq

By LISA HOFFMAN

– The death rate of U.S. troops in Iraq in July approached two a day, a grim up-tick from a significant drop in fatalities the month before.

About a dozen of July’s 54 deaths occurred not in hostilities but from accidents and illness - a major change from June. July also brought a marked decrease in the number of National Guard and reserve casualties compared to previous months.

Military experts say one reason for the relative drop in U.S. battle deaths is the lower profile the American force has taken since sovereignty was returned to the Iraqis June 28.

Since then, Iraqi citizens have been the primary victims, as anti-U.S. forces have targeted those cooperating with American troops, leaders of the new Iraqi government and ordinary civilians going about their daily lives.

According to Pentagon statistics and a Scripps Howard News Service casualty database:

– While 42 American troops were killed in hostile action in July, 10 others died in motor-vehicle accidents, one died of a heart attack at a recreational facility and the cause of one Army private’s demise was categorized only as "non-combat-related injuries."

That toll compares to the deaths of 42 GIs in June, which amounted to a drop of nearly half from May’s 80-troop death toll. Enemy action was far more deadly, with 90 percent of the deaths in June coming from enemy attacks.

– July was less brutal to America’s "citizen soldiers," with eight war deaths. In contrast, almost half of June’s dead were Guard or reserve forces, who now make up about 40 percent of the 138,000 U.S. forces in Iraq.

– Among July’s fallen were two women soldiers, bringing to 25 the number of female GIs who have died in Iraq and environs since the war started in March 2003.

One was Army Sgt. 1st Class Linda-Ann Tarango-Griess, 33, of Sutton, Neb., whose husband is also a Nebraska National Guard member. She was killed when a roadside bomb detonated near her Humvee July 11, as a U.S. convoy traveled near Samarra, Iraq.

The other was Army Sgt. Tatjana Reed, 34, of Fort Campbell, Ky., who was a heavy-wheeled-vehicle officer felled when a bomb went off near her. Born in Germany and a naturalized U.S. citizen, Reed had one daughter.

Along with Reed’s child, at least 34 other children lost their U.S. fathers in July. Two new widows are expecting babies, including one who is due this month.

– Roadside bombs claimed the preponderance of American lives, as they have for more than six months. Of July’s fallen, 20 died in Humvees and four in trucks attacked by what the military calls "improvised explosive devices."

– At least 12 who died in July were serving their second tour of duty in Iraq.

As of Monday, the Pentagon has released the names of 908 U.S. troops who have died since the start of the war. Another four have not yet been officially identified by the military.

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