As we begin the last month of 2006 and our thoughts turn to the new year, I thought we should take a moment to reflect on some facts we would rather not, doing this also in remembrance of family and friends no longer with us. And, because there are certain things we should never allow ourselves to forget, lest we be guilty of not learning from our past... no more words. .................... Total KIA Civil War ........... 524,332 WW II ............... 405,399 WW I ................ 116,516 Viet Nam ............. 58,249 Korea ................ 36,574 Mexican War .......... 13,283 American Revolution ... 4,435 Iraq "OIF" ............ 2,880 Spanish-American War .. 2,446 War of 1812 ........... 2,260 Indian Wars ........... 1,000 Desert Shield / Storm ... 382 Afghanistan "OEF" ....... 348 --- As At 12/01/2006 American Revolution (1775-1783) Total Casualties ............. 4,435 Wounded ...................... 6,188 War of 1812 (1812-1815) Total Casualties ............. 2,260 Wounded ...................... 4,505 Indian Wars (circa 1817-1898) Total Casualties ............. 1,000 Wounded ....................... ??? Mexican War (1846-1848) Hostile Action ............... 1,733 13.0% Accidents / Friendly Fire ... 11,550 87.0% Total Casualties ............ 13,283 Wounded ...................... 4,152 Civil War (1861-1865) Hostile Action ............. 214,938 41.0% Accidents / Friendly Fire .. 309,394 59.0% or 1 out of ever 2 Total Casualties ........... 524,332 Wounded .................... 286,881 Spanish-American War (1898-1902) Hostile Action ................. 385 15.7% Accidents / Friendly Fire .... 2,061 84.3% Total Casualties ............. 2,446 Wounded ...................... 1,662 WW I (1917-1918) Hostile Action .............. 53,402 45.8% Accidents / Friendly Fire ... 63,114 54.2% or 1 out of ever 2 Total Casualties ........... 116,516 Wounded .................... 204,002 WW II (1941-1945) Hostile Action ............. 291,557 71.9% Accidents / Friendly Fire .. 113,842 28.1% or 1 out of ever 4 Total Casualties ........... 405,399 Wounded .................... 671,846 Korea (1950-1953) Hostile Action .............. 33,741 92.3% Accidents / Friendly Fire .... 2,833 7.7% or 1 out of ever 13 Total Casualties ............ 36,574 Wounded .................... 103,284 Viet Nam (1964-1975) Hostile Action .............. 47,425 81.4% Accidents / Friendly Fire ... 10,824 18.6% or 1 out of ever 5 Total Casualties ............ 58,249 Wounded .................... 304,000 Desert Shield / Storm (1990-1991) Hostile Action ................. 147 38.5% Accidents / Friendly Fire ...... 235 61.5% or 1 out of ever 2 Total Casualties ............... 382 Wounded ........................ 467 Afghanistan "OEF" (2001-....) Hostile Action ................. 192 55.2% Accidents / Friendly Fire ...... 156 44.8% or 1 out of ever 2 Total Casualties ............... 348 Wounded ...................... 1,058 Iraq "OIF" (2003-....) Hostile Action ............... 2,313 80.3% Accidents / Friendly Fire ...... 567 19.7% or 1 out of ever 5 Total Casualties ............. 2,880 Wounded ..................... 21,921 --- Regards, Walt Schmidt