Roaming around this morning pre-caffine, I came across this site on the statistics of Iraq war casualties for the coalition forces which is impressive if for no other reason than the incredible effort it must take to maintain. Here is an example, which, if an accurate representation of the hometowns of those who have died requires a constant eye on the issue:
As with the work of the Andrew Tanenbaum, a professor of computer science at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, whose US election 2004 website I followed closely, you have a sense that these people are not only making a point about the politics but also their methodology as well as the general capabilities of the internet. It is interesting to note that the politics are very much in support of the troops.
One casualty patter that I might as John of Argghhh to comment upon is the recent deaths of corporals in the Marines. When I look at the daily fatality table, which details each soldier lost, that rank comes up surprisingly consistently. I suspect they are the lead of teams entering buildings and rooms but I would certainly stand to be corrected.
Comments
Darcey - November 19, 2004 6:10 PM
Interesting - I live in northern California (above Sac). The whole county is plastered with support our troops signs, ribbons, sticker, ect. One store in particular has a wall of pictures and newspaper clippings dedicated to those serving. In some towns though, you would never know anything was happening at all.
Brian - November 20, 2004 12:38 PM
Regarding the issue of the Marine Corps rank of "Corporal" dying in greater numbers... ("Lance Corporal" and "Corporal" are E-3 & E-4, respectively.) I would be curious to know, as well, if the Army counterpart ranks of "Private First Class" and "Specialist/Corporal" reflect the same tendency. If you find a database on the web that breaks down the deaths by rank, let me know.
Alan - November 20, 2004 1:01 PM
Now that is something I was entirely unaware of. I assumed that there were ranks below Corporal in the Marines as wel as the Army. Maybe that is the heart of my misunderstanding. Thanks Brian and take care.
John of Argghhh! - November 20, 2004 2:50 PM
Finally got here, Alan.
In US ground arms, we consider E4 and below to be 'junior enlisted, and they constitute the bulk of the soldiery.
E1: Private (no rank insignia in the Army) Private in the Marine Corps. (No rank insignia in the Corps)
E2: Private (single chevron, also called 'mosquito wings') Private First Class in the Marine Corps (single chevron in the Corps)
E3: Private First Class (chevron with rocker) Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps (single chevron with crossed rifles beneath in the Corps)
E4: Specialist/Corporal (Shield w/Eagle or two chevrons). Corporal in the Marine Corps. (Two chevrons with crossed rifles underneath in the Corps)
In the Army, (vice the Marines) an E4 is a Corporal if they are filling an Non-Commissioned Officer's slot (a slot graded for E5 (Sergeant) or above), or in some combat specialties, there are E4 slots coded as Corporals. The Marines do not make the distinction the Army does.
Due to the time soldiers and Marines spend in grade and the arcana of personnel management - the bulk of the junior enlisted force is in the E3-E4 range, trending towards the E4. So it isn't surprising, really, to see the greatest presence on the battlefield at the short end also well represented in the casualty figures. It reflects, especially in the operational environment extant in the insurgency period, who is most exposed to danger. Not that officers are avoiding it, but unlike in major combat ops, officers rarely command convoys and small details. That's sergeant's work. You see the officer casualties spike upwards when things like the recent fighting in Fallujah occur, because that's when the officers are out in greater numbers.
But that's why you see so many Marine corporals (especially compared to the Army). To get a better idea of relative parity (of course, you also have to start controlling for a lot of other factors, and need to do a per thousand-style comparison, you need to add together the Army Specialist and Corporal casualties to have an equivalent rank grouping to the Marine Corporal.
Is that not a bit more than you were bargaining for?
Alan - November 20, 2004 2:55 PM
Never. I am here to learn and, as you know John and like Brian in Iraq, your work experience is so different from mine I never fail to gain from your comments.
John of Argghhh! - November 20, 2004 2:58 PM
Another thing that map shows, as well. There's plenty of pain in the blue states as well as the Red states. Be interesting to dig into that at the county level.
Some other time, however. I'm off to ride horses.
Alan - November 20, 2004 3:03 PM
I did think that as well but I am useless at mapping and I am myself off to the Santa Claus parade. Hope you are having a big Grey Cup party tomorrow down there. Argoes or Lions?