April a deadly month for Guard, reserves

WASHINGTON – The deadliest month of the Iraq war for U.S. troops has taken an especially heavy toll on the Army National Guard and Army Reserve.

Overall, at least 136 U.S. troops died in Iraq in April – more than in the previous three months combined – including more than a dozen whose names have not been released because the Army has not notified their families. That compares with death totals of 50 in March, 21 in February and 46 in January.

In April, up to 1,361 Iraqis were killed, according to an Associated Press tally.

“No doubt that the casualties suffered in April were the most severe casualties that we have suffered in Iraq to date,” the top American commander in the Middle East, Gen. John Abizaid, said Friday. He insisted, however, that U.S. forces are on track to defeat the insurgents.

The Army National Guard and Army Reserve were hit especially hard in April, with at least 17 deaths. That is more losses for the nation’s corps of citizen soldiers than in any other month of the war.

In the past week alone, six National Guard soldiers and one from the Army Reserve were killed in combat. In all, at least 111 National Guard and Reserve members have died in Iraq so far.

The escalating number of killed and wounded coincided with a surge in violence that began in late March, notably in the Sunni Muslim stronghold of Fallujah, where U.S. forces initially had too few troops to establish full control, as well as in Baghdad and south-central Iraq.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld conceded at midmonth that he had not expected so many casualties a full year after Baghdad was taken and four months after Saddam Hussein was captured.

In all, 732 U.S. troops have died in Iraq since the conflict began, according to the Pentagon’s official count on Friday. That figure, however, does not include at least some of the dozen who have died in the past two days.

Abizaid predicted on Friday that the level of anti-occupation violence will remain high as the June 30 target date for turning over political control to an interim Iraqi government approaches.

He insisted, however, “We are not in any military danger of losing control.”

Copyright ©2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

A pedestrian struck and killed by vehicle Wednesday in Everett

The pedestrian was a man in his 60s. The collision happened at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Want coffee? Drink some with the Marysville mayor.

A casual question-and-answer session between mayor and constituents is planned for March 24.

Judge sentences man for role in human smuggling ring

Jesus Ortiz-Plata was arrested in Everett in May 2024. A U.S. District Court judge sentenced him to 15 months in prison.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Bill Wood, right, Donnie Griffin, center right, and Steve Hatzenbeler, left, listen and talk with South County Fire Chief Bob Eastman, center left, during an Edmonds Civic Roundtable event to discuss the RFA annexation on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds community discusses annexation into the regional fire authority

About 100 residents attended the Edmonds Civic Roundtable discussion in preparation for the April special election.

Timothy Evans, a volunteer at the east Everett cold weather shelter, with his dog Hammer on Monday, Feb. 10 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Temporary shelter opens in Everett during unusually cold weather

The shelter will open nightly until Feb. 14. Help is needed at the new location, as well as six others across the county.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.