Order Code RS21578
Updated August 31, 2005
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Iraq: Summary of U.S. Casualties
Hannah Fischer
Information Research Specialist
Knowledge Services Group
Summary
The following casualty table was compiled by the Department of Defense, as tallied
from DOD press releases. Table 1 provides statistics on fatalities during Operation Iraqi
Freedom, which began on March 19, 2003, and is ongoing, as well as on the number of
fatalities since May 1, 2003, plus statistics on those wounded, but not killed, since
March 19, 2003. Statistics may be revised as circumstances are investigated and as all
records are processed through the U.S. military’s casualty system. This report will be
updated semiweekly, but more frequent updates are available at DOD’s website at
[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/]; click on “OIF/OEF Casualty Update.”
A detailed casualty summary that includes data on deaths by cause, as well as
statistics on soldiers wounded in action, is available at the following DOD website:
[http://web1.whs.osd.mil/mmid/casualty/OIF-Total.pdf].
Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom, U.S. Fatalities and Wounded
as of August 31, 2005, 10 a.m. EDT

March 19, 2003,
May 1, 2003,
March 19, 2003,
Fatalities
Wounded
to the Present
to the Present
to the Present
Hostile
1,459
1,345
In actiona
14,120
Non-hostile
417
387
Not Returned
6,770
to Duty
Total
1,876
1,732

Source: DOD press releases.
Note: The President’s statement about combat operations in Iraq having ended can be found in the Weekly
Compilation of Presidential Documents, May 1, 2003, p. 516.
a. Includes the “Not Returned to Duty” figure.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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