On May 30, 2005, Vice President Cheney declared that the insurgency in Iraq was in its “last throes” and predicted “the level of activity that we see today from a military standpoint, I think, will clearly decline.”
Increased military activity throughout Iraq has pushed U.S. troop deaths to their highest level for any two-month period of the war.
Pentagon records show that 115 troops have been killed so far in May. That raises the total for the past two months to 219, exceeding the 215 who died in April and May of 2004, when U.S. forces fought insurgents in Fallujah.
Not including the ten killed on Memorial Day, and a handful of others not identified by name by the DoD, here’s the butcher’s bill for May:
May 27
Marine Lance Cpl. Emmanuel Villarreal, 21, Eagle Pass, Texas; died from a non-combat related vehicle accident at Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait; assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
May 26
• Army Spc. Clinton C. Blodgett, 19, Pekin, Ind.; died in Baghdad when his vehicle struck an explosive; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.
• Army Spc. Francis M. Trussel Jr., 21, Lincoln, Ill.; died from an explosive in Tahrir; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
• Marine Sgt. Nicholas R. Walsh, 27, Millstadt, Ill.; died during combat in Anbar province; assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
May 25
• Marine Lance Cpl. David P. Lindsey, 20, Spartanburg, S.C.; died from a non-combat related incident in Anbar province; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• Army Pvt. William L. Bailey III, 29, Bellevue, Neb.; died in Taji of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his vehicle; was assigned to the 755th Chemical Reconnaissance/Decontamination Company, Nebraska Army National Guard, O’Neill, Neb.
• Army Spc. Alexander Rosa Jr., 22, Orlando; died by an explosion in Muqdadiyah; was assigned to the 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.
• Army Spc. Mathew P. LaForest, 21, Austin, Texas; died by small arms fire in Taji; was assigned to 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
• Army Pfc. Casey P. Zylman, 22, Coleman, Mich.; died in Mosul, of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his vehicle Thursday in Tal Afar; assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
May 24
• Army Spc. Mark R.C. Caguioa, 21, Stockton, Calif.; died at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of wounds suffered May 4 in Baghdad when his vehicle struck an explosive; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Two soldiers were killed by an explosion in Baghdad. Both were assigned to 1st Brigade Transition Team, and attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. The soldiers were:
• Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Dunham, 36, Baltimore.
• Army Staff Sgt. Russell K. Shoemaker, 31, Sweet Springs, Mo.
• Army Sgt. Iosiwo Uruo, 27, Agana Heights, Guam; killed in Buhriz, by small arms fire; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.
• Army Spc. Benjamin J. Ashley, 22, Independence, Mo.; died in Balad, of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his vehicle; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
• Army Pfc. Robert H. Dembowski, 20, Ivyland, Pa.; died in Baghdad, of wounds suffered from small arms fire; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
May 23
Two soldiers died in Nahrawan of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near their vehicle. Both were assigned to 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Benning, Ga. The soldiers were:
• Army Cpl. Victor H. Toledo Pulido, 22, Hanford, Calif.
• Army Cpl. Jonathan D. Winterbottom, 21, Falls Church, Va.
• Army Staff Sgt. Steve Butcher Jr., 27, Penfield, N.Y.; died in Ramadi of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his unit; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
• Army Pfc. Daniel P. Cagle, 22, Carson, Calif.; died in Balad of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his unit in Ramadi; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
May 22
• Army Staff Sgt. Kristopher A. Higdon, 25, Odessa, Texas; died in Taji of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his unit; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.
• Army Pfc. Robert A. Worthington, 19, Jackson, Ga.; died in Taji of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his unit; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.
• Army Sgt. Robert J. Montgomery Jr., 29, Scottsburg, Ind.; died in Al Jabour, of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his unit; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
• Army Staff Sgt. David C. Kuehl, 27, Wahpeton, N.D.; died in Taji, Iraq, after an explosive detonated near his unit; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.
• Army Pvt. Oscar Sauceda Jr., 21, Del Rio, Texas; killed in Baghdad by small-arms fire; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
• Marine Lance Cpl. Benjamin D. Desilets, 21, Elmwood, Ill.; killed in combat in Anbar province; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• Marine Cpl. Julian M. Woodall, 21, Tallahassee, Fla.; killed in combat in Anbar province; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
May 21
• Army Staff Sgt. Shannon V. Weaver, 28, Urich, Mo.; died after an explosive detonated near his vehicle; assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
• Army Sgt. Brian D. Ardron, 32, Acworth, Ga.; died after an explosive detonated near his vehicle; assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
• Army Spc. Michael W. Davis, 22, San Marcos, Texas; died after an explosive detonated near his vehicle; assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
May 19
• Army Sgt. Jason A. Schumann, 23, Hawley, Minn.; killed in Diwaniyah when his vehicle struck an explosive; assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.
• Army Cpl. Ryan D. Collins, 20, of Vernon, Texas; died in Hamiyah of wounds suffered during combat on Friday; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
• Six Army soldiers died in Baghdad when their vehicle struck an explosive. Killed were Staff Sgt. Christopher Moore, 28, Alpaugh, Calif.; Sgt. Jean P. Medlin, 27, Pelham, Ala.; Spc. David W. Behrle, 20, Tipton, Iowa; Spc. Joseph A. Gilmore, 26, Webster, Fla.; Pfc. Travis F. Haslip, 20, Ooltewah, Tenn.; and Pfc. Alexander R. Varela, 19, Fernley, Nev.
All were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
• Army Sgt. Justin D. Wisniewski, 22, Standish, Mich., was killed by an explosive in Lutfiyah; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y._
May 18
• Army Sgt. Ryan J. Baum, 27, Aurora, Colo., died of small-arms fire in Karmah; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
• Three Army soldiers were killed by an explosive in Tahrir.Killed were Sgt. Anselmo Martinez III, 26, Robstown, Texas; Spc. Casey W. Nash, 22, Baltimore; and Spc. Joshua G. Romero, 19, Crowley, Texas.All three were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
• Two Army soldiers — Sgt. 1st Class Scott J. Brown, 33, Windsor, Colo.; and Spc. Marquis J. McCants, 23, San Antonio — were killed by an explosive and small-arms fire in Baghdad.Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
May 17
• Three Army soldiers died in Iskandariya when an explosive detonated near their vehicle. Killed were Sgt. 1st Class Jesse B. Albrecht, 31, Hager City, Wis.; Spc. Coty J. Phelps, 20, Kingman, Ariz.; and Pfc. Victor M. Fontanilla, 23, Stockton, Calif.All three were assigned to the 725th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
• Army Pfc. Aaron D. Gautier, 19, Hampton, Va.; killed Thursday in Baghdad by small arms fire; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
•Army Sgt. Steven M. Packer, 23, Clovis, Calif.; killed Thursday in Rushdi Mullah by an explosive; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
• Army Pfc. Jonathan V. Hamm, 20, Baltimore; killed Thursday in Baghdad by indirect fire; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
May 14
• Army Sgt. Thomas G. Wright, 38, Holly, Mich.; died en route to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, after a non-combat related incident in Balad; assigned to the 46th Military Police Company, 210th Military Police Battalion, Kingsford, Mich.
• Army Sgt. Allen J. Dunckley, 25, Yardley, Pa.; killed in Salman Pak by small-arms fire; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
• Army Sgt. Christopher N. Gonzalez, 25, Winslow, Ariz.; killed in Salman Pak by small-arms fire; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
• Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffrey D. Walker, 21, Macon, Ga.; killed during combat in Anbar province; assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• Air Force Staff Sgt. John T. Self, 29, Pontotoc, Miss.; killed in combat near Baghdad; assigned to the 314th Security Forces Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
May 13
• Army Spc. Rhys W. Klasno, 20, Riverside, Calif.; killed in Haditha when his vehicle struck an explosive; assigned to the 1114th Transportation Company, Bakersfield, Calif.
• Army 1st Lt. Andrew J. Bacevich, 27, Walpole, Mass.; died in Balad after an explosive detonated near his unit in Salahuddin province; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
May 12
• Army Pfc. Joseph J. Anzack Jr., 20, Torrance, Calif.; his body was recently recovered; captured May 12 by enemy forces in Al Taqa; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
• Army Sgt. Anthony J. Schober, 23, Carson City, Nev.; killed in Taqa by automatic fire and explosives; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
• Army Sgt. 1st Class James D. Connell Jr., 40, Lake City, Tenn.; killed in Taqa while on patrol; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
• Army Pfc. Daniel W. Courneya, 19, Nashville, Mich.; killed in Taqa while on patrol; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
• Army Pfc. Christopher E. Murphy, 21, Lynchburg, Va.; killed in Taqa while on patrol; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
May 11
• Marine Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec, 34, Albuquerque; died during combat in Baghdad; assigned to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps National Capital Region, Henderson Hall, Arlington, Va.
• Army Pfc. William A. Farrar Jr., 20, Redlands, Calif.; died when an explosive detonated near his vehicle in Iskandariyah; assigned to the 127th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, Darmstadt, Germany.
May 10
• Army Pvt. Anthony J. Sausto, 22, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; killed by small-arms fire in Baghdad; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
• Army Spc. Michael K. Frank, 36, Great Falls, Mont.; died when a bomb exploded near his patrol in Baghdad; assigned to the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
May 9
Marine Lance Cpl. Walter K. O’Haire, 20, Lynn, Mass., died in Anbar province; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
May 8
Army Spc. Dan H. Nguyen, 24, Sugar Land, Texas, died in Tahrir from small arms fire; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
May 6
Six soldiers died Sunday in Baqubah when an explosive detonated near their vehicle. Killed were:
• Army Staff Sgt. Vincenzo Romeo, 23, Lodi, N.J.
• Army Sgt. Jason R. Harkins, 25, Clarkesville, Ga.
• Army Sgt. Joel W. Lewis, 28, Sandia Park, N.M.
• Army Cpl. Matthew L. Alexander, 21, Gretna, Neb.
• Army Cpl. Anthony M. Bradshaw, 21, San Antonio, Texas.
• Army Cpl. Michael A. Pursel, 19, Clinton, Utah.
• Army Staff Sgt. Virgil C. Martinez, 33, West Valley, Utah, died in Kadhimiyah from an explosive and small arms fire in Baghdad; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.
• Army Sgt. Sameer A. M. Rateb, 22, Absecon, N.J., died in Bayji from injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
• Army Spc. Robert J. Dixon, 27, Minneapolis, died in Baghdad when an explosive detonated near his vehicle; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
• Army Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Kiernan, 37, Virginia Beach, died from small arms fire in Baghdad; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
May 5
Two Marines died in Anbar province:
• Marine Master Sgt. Kenneth N. Mack, 42, Fort Worth; assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquaters Group, II MEF, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• Marine Cpl. Charles O. Palmer II, 36, Manteca, Calif.; assigned to 8th Communication Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, II MEF, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
May 4
Two soldiers died of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near their vehicle. Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas:
• Army Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Hamlin, 24, London, Ky., died Friday in Baghdad.
• Army Pfc. Larry I. Guyton, 22, Brenham, Texas, died Saturday in Balad.
May 3
• Army Pfc. Jerome J. Potter, 24, Tacoma, Wash., died in Baghdad when an explosive detonated near his vehicle; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Two soldiers were killed by an explosive in Ramadi. Both were assigned to Company B, 321st Engineer Battalion of the U.S. Army Reserve, Hayden Lake, Idaho. Killed were:
• Army Staff Sgt. Coby G. Schwab, 25, Puyallup, Wash.
• Army Spc. Kelly B. Grothe, 21, Spokane, Wash.
Two soldiers were killed by small arms fire in Baghdad. Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. Killed were:
• Army Sgt. Felix G. Gonzalez-Iraheta, 25, Sun Valley, Calif.
• Army Pfc. John D. Flores, 21, Barrigada, Guam.
• Army 1st Lt. Colby J. Umbrell, 26, Doylestown, Pa., died in Musayyib of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his vehicle; was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
• Army Spc. Matthew T. Bolar, 24, Montgomery, Ala., died in Baghdad of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his unit; was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
• Army Spc. Andrew R. Weiss, 28, Lafayette, Ind., died in Baghdad of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near his vehicle; was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
May 2
Two soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck an explosive in Baghdad. Both were assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. Killed were:
• Army 1st Lt. Ryan P. Jones, 23, Westminster, Mass.
• Army Spc. Astor A. Sunsin-Pineda, 20, Long Beach, Calif.
• Army Pfc. Katie M. Soenksen, 19, Davenport, Iowa, died of wounds suffered when an explosive detonated near her vehicle in Baghdad; was assigned to the 410th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.
May 1
• Army Pfc. Zachary R. Gullett, 20, Hillsboro, Ohio; died in Baghdad in a non-combat related incident; assigned to the 984th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Carson, Colo.
• Marine Lance Cpl. Johnathan E. Kirk, 25, Belhaven, N.C., died from wounds received during combat on April 23 in Anbar province; was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.