Posted on 08/22/2005 3:56:43 PM PDT by Axhandle
FORT STEWART, Ga. -- Ray Gilstrap wiped away tears as he stood beside the tree planted in his nephew's honor, the latest in a living memorial to soldiers killed in Iraq that has more than doubled since the Army's 3rd Infantry Division began its second tour this year.
"The numbers, compared to Vietnam, they're so small. You don't expect it," said Gilstrap, whose nephew, Sgt. Arthur R. McGill, was killed last month by an insurgent bomb while patrolling Baghdad. "Of course, we look at it differently now."
Seven months after the Fort Stewart-based 3rd Infantry deployed, the death toll during its second combat tour has surpassed the 42 casualties the division suffered leading the 2003 charge to Baghdad.
As of Aug. 12, 53 soldiers have died since the division's 19,000 troops deployed in January, according to an Associated Press tally of Department of Defense casualty reports. Of those, 36 were killed in hostile action, including 25 slain by insurgent bombs detonated on roadsides, inside cars or by suicide bombers.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"As of Aug. 12, 53 soldiers have died since the division's 19,000 troops deployed in January... 36 were killed in hostile action..."
Axhandle math says that 53-36=17. That means that for almost every 2 Soldiers killed by hostile action, 1 is killed by a non-hostile event. How are so many Soldiers being killed by non-hostile events? Are people drowning in water polo tournaments at LSA Anaconda? Are they keeling over from heart attacks during the 5K fun runs at Camp Victory? What gives? The 1960's wannabe peaceniks should be whining about Soldiers dying in accidents before they whine about Soldiers being killed while securing freedom.
A 0.3% death rate. Sheesh.
It's a bit more dangerous than "water polo tournaments" and "5k fun runs."
I'm sure the families of the fallen would just love to read your insensitive remarks.
Thanks for saying that for me. I was biting my tongue as I hit post.
Prayers for our fallen heroes! Prayers for comfort for their families.
I'll bet I was biting my tongue longer than you did yours.
Probably so.
Being in the military, particularly in the infantry, is a dangerous job. Being in the mechanized infantry (as I was for 8 years), there are numerous ways to die, and only a few of them involve combat.
I could tell stories all night about people I knew who died or were seriously injured as the result of non-battle injuries in tanks and Bradleys.
Hell, I almost got turned into a grease spot more than once, and was about a half inch from decapitation on quite a few occasions, just to name a few off the top of my head.
It always seemed to me that it was the army's heavy hitter. Always seemed to be the main division in any conflict.
I served as a Bradley crewman with the 3rd BDE 3rd ID during the firt part of OIF, during the initial invasion. We crossed from Kuwait and fought all the way to Baghdad. I can say that the men I served with were fearless, professional and proud. Accidents can and will happen, especially in a Mech unit, but I can assure you, nobody was killed playing water polo...
The 24th ID reflagged to 3rd ID in 1996, when I was a platoon leader in 1/15 IN, 3rd Brigade. Then, as now, it was the heavy division in XVIII Airborne Corps. When I left active duty, I joined the National Guard. My guard unit, Georgia's 48th Brigade, is a roundout unit for 3rd Division. I went to Bosnia under 3rd ID, and my friends are in Iraq now under 3rd ID. It's one hell of an outfit.
Hooah. Thanks for your service.
Just doin my little bit...
Rock of the Marne!
Yeah, 48th is there now, and has lost I believe 18 soldiers at last count. We had a statewide moment of silence for them last week.
I didn't even have to shush any of the kids for that one.
I wouldn't give a bean
To be a fancy-pants Marine
I'd rather be a dogface soldier like I am
I wouldn't trade my old OD's
For all the Navy's dungarees
For I'm the walking pride of Uncle Sam
On all the posters that I read it says the Army builds men
So they're tearing me down to build me over again
I'm just a dogface soldier
With a rifle on my shoulder
And I kill a kraut for breakfast every day
So feed me ammunition
Keep me in the Third Division
Your dogface solder boy's okay
The first person who stopped and helped me was a soldier. Changed my attitude immediately.
the original one,too, Im impressed! They changed some of the words a few years back, but we still sang it every morning at 0630...
I was in Armor in peacetime Germany for the first three years of my Army career ('career' is used loosely) and the way guys could injure themselves was endless. Drove Hueys after that.
I see you're from Georgia and I have a vivid memory of the Rock of the Marne's predecessor - The Taro Leaf Division at Ft. Stewart. I was attending a refresher course at Flight Safety/Gulfstream in Savannah in January 91 as the Air War was beginning. The 24th ID was already in position in Saudi. I had never been to Ft. Stewart and wanted to see the main part of the post. I drove out there just as the sun was setting. I'll never forget driving by tank park after motor pool after tank park that were without any military vehicles. What they were full of was hundreds and hundreds of POVs that obviously belonged to young soldiers. The Gulf War got real for me that evening.
Heh, I learned the original words from a member of the 15th Infantry Regiment Society. This guy had walked across Europe in WWII, and he took a moment to pass some history on to a young second lieutenant. It's a memory I treasure.
Also known as the "Exploding Butthole" division. Take a look at the subdued patch and you'll see what I mean LOL.....
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