The Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress recently published a report entitled American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics (Updated June 29, 2007). As we approach Veterans’ Day this year, it is a document worth reflecting on, because it provides in great detail the U.S. casualty statistics for every war in which the United States has participated, from the Revolutionary War through our current Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The report lists, by branch of service and by a variety of demographics, the 4,435 deaths in the Revolutionary War; 2,300 in the War of 1812; and 1,733 in the Mexican War. While the report lists only Union casualties, other sources reveal that between 618,000 and 700,000 Americans, both blue and grey, died in the Civil War. Taken alone, this vast number of casualties nearly exceeds our combined loss in all other wars from our nation’s first, the Revolutionary War, through Vietnam.
These somber statistics tell of the sacred commitment through the years of those who fought and died to provide freedom for their fellow Americans. In the Spanish-American War, nearly 2,500 of our countrymen perished; two decades later in World War I, nearly 117,000 gave their lives, as did another 500,000 in World War II.
In Korea there were 36,754 American deaths; and in Vietnam, 58,209; in the brief first Persian Gulf War, 382 perished. Since the early nineties, we have continued each year to lose 1,000 to 2,000 of our young men and women in uniform, even during times of relative peace. But that number of annual casualties is actually declining.
In the Global War on Terrorism being waged in Iraq during the past 4½ years, our losses to date have totaled 3,800. While this is much lower than the toll from conflicts of the past, the loss of each American life is heartbreaking and the measure of that sacrifice is enormous. Each life we lose is sacred in the glorious cause of liberty and freedom. And as we thank the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we at least can gain some solace that the number of our casualties has been on a decline.
One cannot handle this Congressional Research Service report without seeing past the numbers to the hundreds of thousands of selfless young men and women who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we cherish. I suspect that nearly every American family has been touched by the loss of at least one loved one within memory, and through those tragic and painful losses, we are all profoundly invested in the great American cause of liberty and justice for all.
There is much controversy stirred up by the axis of the radical political left, including its Hollywood and media allies, over the War in Iraq. They would have us view this war, which most of us sensibly understand is a battlefield of the Global War on Terrorism, as a pointless waste, a quagmire, a war that cannot be won.
But the truth is that with the recent troop “surge” under General Petraeus, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of military and civilian deaths in Iraq. Last month saw the lowest monthly toll since July 2006 and the fourth consecutive drop in the monthly death toll following a high of 121 in May. Civilian deaths are down by over 53 percent.
Some feel that this surge started much too late, but it is clearly working. Thousands of terrorists who, were they not engaged in Iraq might be terrorizing and killing civilians in the United States or wherever people enjoy freedom, have themselves been neutralized as a result of the surge.
The price tag for our freedom has always been beyond measure, but it is a price Americans have always had the courage and will to pay. It would betray the memory, honor, and youthful treasure of so many thousand brave Americans who have given their all defending our freedom, were we to head down the slippery slope of retreat, defeat, and humiliation advocated by the radical left.
The words of the ancient Greek historian, Thucydides, written four centuries before the birth of Christ, remain true today: “The secret of freedom is courage.”
I pray that our nation will never cower from this time-tested truth.
The report lists, by branch of service and by a variety of demographics, the 4,435 deaths in the Revolutionary War; 2,300 in the War of 1812; and 1,733 in the Mexican War. While the report lists only Union casualties, other sources reveal that between 618,000 and 700,000 Americans, both blue and grey, died in the Civil War. Taken alone, this vast number of casualties nearly exceeds our combined loss in all other wars from our nation’s first, the Revolutionary War, through Vietnam.
These somber statistics tell of the sacred commitment through the years of those who fought and died to provide freedom for their fellow Americans. In the Spanish-American War, nearly 2,500 of our countrymen perished; two decades later in World War I, nearly 117,000 gave their lives, as did another 500,000 in World War II.
In Korea there were 36,754 American deaths; and in Vietnam, 58,209; in the brief first Persian Gulf War, 382 perished. Since the early nineties, we have continued each year to lose 1,000 to 2,000 of our young men and women in uniform, even during times of relative peace. But that number of annual casualties is actually declining.
In the Global War on Terrorism being waged in Iraq during the past 4½ years, our losses to date have totaled 3,800. While this is much lower than the toll from conflicts of the past, the loss of each American life is heartbreaking and the measure of that sacrifice is enormous. Each life we lose is sacred in the glorious cause of liberty and freedom. And as we thank the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we at least can gain some solace that the number of our casualties has been on a decline.
One cannot handle this Congressional Research Service report without seeing past the numbers to the hundreds of thousands of selfless young men and women who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we cherish. I suspect that nearly every American family has been touched by the loss of at least one loved one within memory, and through those tragic and painful losses, we are all profoundly invested in the great American cause of liberty and justice for all.
There is much controversy stirred up by the axis of the radical political left, including its Hollywood and media allies, over the War in Iraq. They would have us view this war, which most of us sensibly understand is a battlefield of the Global War on Terrorism, as a pointless waste, a quagmire, a war that cannot be won.
But the truth is that with the recent troop “surge” under General Petraeus, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of military and civilian deaths in Iraq. Last month saw the lowest monthly toll since July 2006 and the fourth consecutive drop in the monthly death toll following a high of 121 in May. Civilian deaths are down by over 53 percent.
Some feel that this surge started much too late, but it is clearly working. Thousands of terrorists who, were they not engaged in Iraq might be terrorizing and killing civilians in the United States or wherever people enjoy freedom, have themselves been neutralized as a result of the surge.
The price tag for our freedom has always been beyond measure, but it is a price Americans have always had the courage and will to pay. It would betray the memory, honor, and youthful treasure of so many thousand brave Americans who have given their all defending our freedom, were we to head down the slippery slope of retreat, defeat, and humiliation advocated by the radical left.
The words of the ancient Greek historian, Thucydides, written four centuries before the birth of Christ, remain true today: “The secret of freedom is courage.”
I pray that our nation will never cower from this time-tested truth.
16 comments:
Very interesting and humbling, General. God bless our Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers, Coast Guardsmen and Marines, and their families. God bless
our President and the United States of America. And God bless the memories of those who have died in service to our great Nation. Their ultimate sacrifice in this noble and righteous cause of freedom is what compels me and my shipmates to serve.
Semper Fidelis, Sailor. That's why I served. You and your shipmates are the future of our country.
Thank you, General Eckstrom, for providing this forum.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
I wish more people spoke out like you. Why have we let the vile liberals turn this nation so upside down??? God help us all.
why doesnt msm report these stats? or pelosi and her dems in congress?
another GREAT post - thanx & keep standing up for all patriotic AMERICANS - liberals should go straight to iraq or afgan'stan to git a better grip on life
A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist.
One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes." The lecture room fell silent.
You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am God. I'm still waiting"
It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently.
The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked,
"What the heck is the matter with you? Why did you do that?? The Marine calmly replied,
"God was busy today protecting America's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff and act like an idiot.
So, He sent me."
Thank you, General Eckstrom, for talking about real issues and for showing such beautiful pictures of our State.
Dear Upstate Native,
Until I was elected to office, I was an Upstater like you. I love the whole state and I really love the Upstate.
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. I hope that you can tell how strongly I feel about protecting the future of our families, our communities, our State, and our nation.
All of us need to take a firm stand against the tragic changes that many liberals would like to impose on us. We're living in extremely turbulent times, domestically and internationally, but Americans have a long history of rising to meet whatever challenges they face. With God's continued blessing, we'll continue to prevail against our challenges.
Let's hope a liberal doesn't win the Presidential Election in '08 - the war on terror would take a backseat to an all-out war on global warming!
Thank you, Richard, for being a public official that actually communicates with the people of South Carolina. That is refreshing to see that from an elected official. Go Rudy!
Eric, I can tell from your comment that you're an astute person with a nice sense of humor. I liked your expression that the libs would pursue their war against global warming ahead of the GWOT. While funny, it's also really sad.
I suppose they're thinking that THEIR global war (against the recurring cycles of nature) is a safer bet than the jihad being waged by terrorists against freedom loving people. Stand tall for the glorious cause of liberty, my friend.
Agree with Eric except about Rudy. Time will tell that Mitt's the one!
That's the thing, when you state facts about a liberal's true belief, it comes out humorous.
Richard, can you imagine if a democart is President in '08? Everytime the temperature goes up a little, the dems would raise the terror threat level to RED!
annoymous, I like Mitt, too...but I think a Hunter/Rudy or even a sanford/rudy ticket bolds better again a Clinton ticket.
Rudy's not electable. The religious right says they'll walk on a Rudy ticket. If so they divide the base and hand it to Clinton.
what do hunter or sanford bring to the table???
I'm glad to see so much participation on my blog. That's what it's for.
I always appreciate good, thought-provoking comments. But the last few comments seem to have turned the discussion from the issue I was writing about, i.e., the demanding price of freedom.
I hope you'll speak out about that issue.
Great post, General! The cost of freedom has no price tag. There have been many changes to our nation in the last 229 years, but one thing has remained the same, Americans willing to sacrafice their lives for the pursuit of freedom! I guess some politicians forgot how we became a nation with libery and justice for all.
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