Posted on by Dick

Memorial Day. Celebrate, but find the cost of freedom

Have fun this Memorial Day Weekend. Just remember what Memorial Day is all about.

The Battle for  Iwo Jima lasted 36 days and resulted in 25,851 US casualties. Of these, 6,825 Americans were killed. Practically all of the 22,000 Japanese combatants died.

Hundreds of Marine and corpsman dog tags hang from the Marine Corps Monument on top of Mount Suribachi, a volcano at Iwo Jima. Hundreds of Marine and corpsman dog tags hang from the Marine Corps Monument on top of Mount Suribachi, a volcano at Iwo Jima. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Third Class Joshua Millage
Hundreds of Marine and corpsman dog tags hang from the Marine Corps Monument on top of Mount Suribachi, a volcano at Iwo Jima.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Third Class Joshua Millage

This nation has a history colored in blood, from the Revolutionary War to the Present. As of 9 a.m., this May 24, 2013:

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

U.S. Military Casualties  —  4,409

U.S. Civilian Casualties  —       13

KIA

U.S. Military   —   3,480

U.S. Civilians  —          9

NON-HOSTILE

U.S. Military  —   929

U.S. Civilian  —     10

WOUNDED IN ACTION

U.S. Military  —   31,927

OPERATION NEW DAWN

U.S. Military   —   66

KIA   —   38

Non-Hostile   —   28

Wounded in Action   —   295

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM

Total U.S. Military Casualties (Afghanistan)

Deaths   —   2,093

KIA   —   1,734

Non-Hostile   —   355

Pending   —   4

Wounded in Action   —   18,584

U.S. Military Casualties (Other locations )

Total Deaths   —   124

KIA   —  11

Non-Hostile   —   113

OEF U.S. Civilian Casualties

Total Deaths   —   3

KIA   —   1

Non-Hostile   —   2

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM includes casualties that occurred between March 19, 2003, and August 31, 2010, in the Arabian Sea, Bahrain, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Persian Gulf, Qatar, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Prior to March 19, 2003, casualties in these countries were considered OEF. Personnel injured in OIF who die after 1 September 2010 will be included in OIF statistics.

OPERATION NEW DAWN includes casualties that occurred between September 1, 2010, and December 31, 2011, in the Arabian Sea, Bahrain, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Persian Gulf, Qatar, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Personnel injured in OND who die after 31 December 2011 will be included in OND statistics. (Post Iraq War casualties.)

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (Afghanistan & Other Locations), includes casualties that occurred in Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Philippines,Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

(Statistical information from Department of Defense)

Read closely, my friends. And for those of you who can, remember those lyrics to that chilling anti-war song of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young:

“Find the cost of freedom, lying in the ground. Mother Earth will swallow you, lay your body down … ”

Happy Memorial Day.

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