We have, thank God, changed regimes. We, thank God, have a new President who speaks of peace. Yet, we cannot afford to forget that we are still fighting two wars and Americans, Iraqis and Afghanis are dying.
American Deaths
Lance Cpl. Alberto Francesconi, 21, of Bronx, N.Y., died Jan. 1 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Pfc. Christopher W. Lotter, 20, of Chester Heights, Pa., died Dec. 31, 2008, in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he was shot by enemy forces in Tikrit. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Lance Cpl. Chadwick A. Gilliam, 29, of Mayking, Ky., died Jan. 3 at a U.S. military base in Kuwait. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Lance Cpl. Jessie A. Cassada, 19, of Hendersonville, N.C., died Jan. 6 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Staff Sgt. Anthony D. Davis, 29, of Daytona Beach, Fla., died Jan. 6 in Northern Iraq, of wounds suffered when he was shot by enemy forces. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.
Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Bennett, 23, of Clifton, Va., died Jan. 11 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Pvt. Sean P. McCune, 20, of Euless, Texas, died Jan. 11 in Samarra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Sgt. Marquis R. Porter, 28, of Brighton, Mass., died Jan. 11 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Pfc. Ricky L. Turner, 20, of Athens, Ala., died Jan. 16 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. He was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Staff Sgt. Roberto Andrade Jr., 26, of Chicago, Ill., died Jan. 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 66th Armor, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Iraqi Deaths more information here
8 Jan 2009, Abdelrazeq Mohsen Ulwi, 34, male, al-Saadiya
6 Jan 2009, Mohammed Qassim, 25, male, Baquba
5 Jan 2009, Subhi Hassan / Subhi Hassan Mohammed, adult male, Jemen/Cheman, north of Kirkuk, Political party official
4 Jan 2009, Son of Haidar, 4, male, Imam Moussa shrine, Kadhimiyah, Baghdad
4 Jan 2009, Haidar, cousin of Abu Fatima, adult, male, Imam Moussa shrine, Kadhimiyah, Baghdad
4 Jan 2009, Dhiaa Hussein, cousin of Hussein Abu Ali, 20, male, Imam Moussa shrine, Kadhimiyah, Baghdad, Security guard
3 Jan 2009, Anwar Mohyee Al-Din Rasoul / Mohieddin Rassoul / Anwar Mohedin Rasoul, adult male, Al-Shourja, central Kirkuk, Political party member
3 Jan 2009, Brothers, adult male, Sinjar Tribal leader
2 Jan 2009, Brothers of Qais Mohammid Hassoun, adult male, Yusufiya
2 Jan 2009, Brother of Faris Qarqouly, adult male, Yusufiya