Death Toll for the American Military in Iraq in 2005 Is 844

Death Toll for the American Military in Iraq in 2005 Is 844

By DEXTER FILKINS
Published: January 1, 2006


BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 31 - At least 844 American service members were killed in Iraq in 2005, nearly matching 2004's total of 848, and the number of service members wounded in 2005 was significantly higher than in the previous year, according to information released by the United States government and a nonprofit organization that tracks casualties in Iraq.

In 2005, the number of Americans wounded in Iraq, 9,157, exceeded the number wounded in 2004, when the total was 7,956.

The deaths of two Americans announced by the United States military on Friday - a marine killed by gunfire in Falluja and a soldier killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad - brought the total killed since the war in Iraq began in March 2003 to 2,178. The total wounded since the war began is 15,955.

In 2005, the single bloodiest month for American soldiers and marines was January, when 107 were killed and nearly 500 were wounded. At the time, American forces were conducting numerous operations to secure the country for the elections on Jan. 30. The second worst month was October, when 96 Americans were killed and 603 wounded.

More than half of all 2005 American military deaths, 427, were caused by homemade bombs, most of them planted along roadsides and detonated as vehicles passed. American commanders have said that roadside bombs, the leading cause of death in Iraq, have grown larger and more sophisticated. Many, for instance, are triggered by remote detonators, and are large enough to destroy heavily armored tanks and troop carriers.


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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/01/international/middleeast/01iraq.html?hp&ex=1136091600&en=ce0e8968e150bfe9&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Drum roll please.....

At least 844 American service members were killed in Iraq in 2005, nearly matching 2004's total of 848