Iraq: U.S. Casualties
Susan G. Chesser
Information Research Specialist
November 30, 2009
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RS21578
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress

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Iraq: U.S. Casualties

he following casualty data were compiled by the Department of Defense (DOD) as tallied
from the agency’s press releases. Table 1 provides statistics on fatalities during Operation
T 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. More frequent updates are available at DOD’s
website at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/ under “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 DOD’s website at http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/
personnel/CASUALTY/castop.htm.
Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom, U.S. Fatalities and Wounded
as of November 30, 2009, 10 a.m. EST
March 19, 2003, to
May 1, 2003, to
March 19, 2003,
Fatalities
the Present
the Present
Wounded
to the Present
Hostile 3,478 3,360
In
actiona 31,572
Non-hostile 891
857
Not Returned to
Duty
13,877
Total 4,369
4,217
– –
Source: DOD press releases.
Note: President George W. Bush’s statement that combat operations in Iraq had ended can be found in the
Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, May 1, 2003, p. 516.
a. Includes the “Not Returned to Duty” figure.

Author Contact Information

Susan G. Chesser

Information Research Specialist
schesser@crs.loc.gov, 7-9547


Congressional Research Service
1

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