Because it was reported that the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq reached 3,000 just before the year 2006 came to an end, shortly after midnight I decided that it was important to read -- not just scroll through -- the entire list of their names. It's a long list, far too long, but I did it anyhow, and it took over an hour. You can find it here, or see related statistics by using the link to Iraq War Stats in the "My Recent Bookmarks" list on this blog.
I began at the "bottom" of the list, with Therrel Shane Childers, who died nearly four years ago on March 21, 2003 -- yes, it's been almost four years now that this has been going on. Scrolling up from there, I stumbled over the pronunciation of some names in my mind, or noticed that some days or weeks multiple soldiers with the same given or middle name were killed and thought it was an especially unlucky week to have that particular name. I saw "famous" names like Nick Nolte and Michael Jordan. I imagined that when three female service members were killed on the same date they must have been in the same support unit and died together, though I didn't check the details.
I don't know how often I'll go back to that list. I hope it stops growing soon. I think George Bush should read it, or have Laura read it to him. I trust (?) that he is at the very least informed of the number of deaths on a regular basis, but I wonder if he bothers to find out the names? I don't know if he personally offers his condolences to the families of each of these people, but I doubt it. At this moment and after reading the entire list, I believe that should be a job requirement for him -- to personally have at least one conversation with and apologize to the parents, wives, husbands, children, brothers and sisters, friends or other loved ones of every single soldier who has died in his war.
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