United States military casualties in the War in Afghanistan

Last updated

Between 7 October 2001 and 30 August 2021, the United States lost a total of 2,459 military personnel in Afghanistan. Of this figure, 1,922 had been killed in action. An additional 20,769 were wounded in action. [1] 18 operatives of the Central Intelligence Agency were also killed during the conflict. [2] Further, there were 1,822 civilian contractor fatalities. [3]

Contents

The number of American fatalities reached 1,000 on February 19, 2010, when Reconnaissance Corporal Gregory Stultz of the U.S. Marines was killed by Taliban insurgents during the Battle of Marjah. [4] By April 11, 2011, this figure stood at 1,515, [5] and had surpassed 2,000 by September 2012. [6]

On August 6, 2011, the highest number of American fatalities in a single incident occurred in Wardak Province: 30 Americans (incl. 22 Navy SEALs), seven Afghan soldiers, and a civilian interpreter were all killed when their CH-47 Chinook was shot down; the attack was later claimed by the Taliban. [7] [8] [9]

On August 5, 2014, the highest-ranking American fatality occurred in Kabul: Major General Harold J. Greene of the United States Army was shot dead by 22-year-old Private Rafiqullah of the Afghan National Army; Rafiqullah had carried out the fragging after he was denied leave for Eid al-Fitr. [10] [11]

Numbers of fatalities

The United States Department of Defense lists 2,459 servicemembers as having died in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Of these, 1,922 were due to hostile action and 534 non-hostile, and 3 status pending. [12] [1]

Of those killed, 60 were confirmed to have died in Africa, Southeast Asia or Cuba in support of OEF – Horn of Africa, OEF – Philippines, OEF – Trans Sahara, and in the detainment of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Five were killed due to hostile action. [13] Thus, a total of 2,402 United States servicemen were killed in the war in Afghanistan. [1]

The website iCasualties.org lists 2,455 servicemembers and 10 CIA operatives as having died in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom's Sentinel, including 49 who died in support of other OEF operations. This gives a total of 2,406 deaths of servicemen in support of operations in Afghanistan. [14]

The iCasualties.org figure of 2,406 is higher than the Department of Defense's officially stated figure, although according to the website all of the names listed at iCasualties.org have been confirmed by the Department of Defense. [15]

Many veterans have committed suicide as a result of psychological problems developed during their service. [16]

Fatalities by month and year

All fatalities

U.S. fatalities by month in all OEF/OFS theaters according to the US DoD
YearJFMAMJJASONDTotal
200134411
20021012951301151149
2003461121324126143
200492338523457152
2005216184272151263399
20061177111189106107198
20070145811121418910116118
2008718517282022281613156
200915151361224455140591813311
2010303125203460655542505333498
2011242030473447367139301716411
2012261719354129424120171512314
201331161322191312119310132
2014770451235513355
201500011203180621
201610000002033010
201700131313011115
201810010121215116
201910231333202123
202043001020001011
202100000001313

Grand Total: 2,456

Source: [13]

Note: Table omits the deaths of six Department of Defense civilian employees killed in support of operations in Afghanistan and other countries.

Killed in action only

U.S. KIA (hostile) in all OEF/OFS theaters according to the US DoD
YearJFMAMJJASONDTotal
20010033
200210841001020118
200300220104116017
200401216302343025
20052051325212932266
2006166111479595165
20070215101113137710483
2008716514231617261412133
20091215113920394735531710271
2010252922143149585430474731437
2011201624433141326434261613360
20121461126342335371713129237
201331661614911673991
2014350311123503339
201500010003000610
20161000000102419
201700031313001012
201810010021115113
201920230232200117
20202200000000004
202100000001313

Grand Total: 1,928

Source: [13]

Note: Table omits the deaths of four Department of Defense civilian employees killed in action in support of operations in Afghanistan and other countries.

Publicized incidents of multiple deaths of U.S. service members in the war

See also

References

  1. Goldman, Adam; Rosenberg, Matthew (September 6, 2017). "A Funeral of 2 Friends: C.I.A. Deaths Rise in Secret Afghan War". New York Times.
  2. "U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) - Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation (DLHWC) -". www.dol.gov. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  3. Farmer, Ben (February 23, 2010). "US toll in Afghanistan war reaches 1,000". Telegraph. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  4. "Names of the Dead". NYT. April 11, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  5. "US military death toll in Afghanistan reaches 2,000". BBC News. September 30, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Helicopter Shot Down: 22 Navy SEALs Dead in Crash in Afghanistan – ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. August 6, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Afghanistan Helicopter Crash Marks Deadliest Day for U.S. Forces in 10 Years | PBS NewsHour | Aug. 8, 2011". PBS. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  8. Associated Press (August 6, 2011). "Navy SEALs among Afghanistan chopper crash dead". CBC. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  9. Rosenberg, Matthew; Kakaraug, Haris (August 5, 2014). "U.S. General Is Killed in Attack at Afghan Base, Officials Say". The New York Times . Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  10. "U.S. general killed in Afghanistan was key figure in training effort". Washington Post. August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  11. "US Dept. of Defense Casualty Status" (PDF). DOD Casualty Report. February 13, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 DEFENSE CASUALTY ANALYSIS SYSTEM (DCAS)
  13. 1 2 "iCasualties Iraq: iCasualties Home". iCasualties. September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  14. "Methodology for tracking Coalition Fatality database". Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
  15. Kristof, Nicholas D. (April 14, 2012). "A Veteran's Death, the Nation's Shame". The New York Times.
  16. "United States Department of Defense". Defenselink.mil. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  17. "United States Department of Defense". Defenselink.mil. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  18. "Marine from Camp Pendleton unit is 1,000th U.S. military fatality in Afghanistan, news reports say [Updated]". May 29, 2010.
  19. "Army Sgt. Steven J. Deluzio| Military Times". thefallen.militarytimes.com. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  20. "Army Lt. Col. Robert F. Baldwin". Military Times. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  21. "US Navy SEALs, Coalition Personnel Killed During Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan". Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  22. http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011/04/air-force-leaders-say-airmen-killed-in-afghanistan-shooting-042811w/ [ dead link ]
  23. Oppel Jr, Richard A.; Siegel, Matt (August 30, 2012). "5 Soldiers' Deaths in Afghanistan Mark Australia's Worst Toll Yet". The New York Times.
  24. Muñoz, Carlo (October 2012). "Report: Taliban suicide strike kills three US troops in Eastern Afghanistan". The Hill. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  25. "5 US troops die in helicopter crash in Afghanistan". Yahoo News. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  26. "Afghan Doctor, 6 Americans Killed in Afghanistan Attacks". VOA. April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  27. "7 American service members killed in Afghanistan". Yahoo News. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  28. "Three U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan blast". Reuters . November 27, 2018.
  29. "Car bomb kills three US servicemembers outside Bagram Air Field".
  30. "2 US service members killed in roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan". USA Today . Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  31. "Insider attack in Afghanistan kills two U.S. soldiers and Afghan serviceman". Reuters . February 9, 2020.
  32. "Dozens of civilians, at least 14 U.S. troops killed in Kabul airport attack". Reuters . August 28, 2021.