The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began 10 years ago this week -- on March 19, 2003 -- and although officially "over," fighting continues with discouraging persistence.
By one count, the war is directly responsible for 189,000 deaths, not including those who died from hardship caused by the fighting.
CNN has a stunning map of all casualties in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
In all, 4,802 Americans and allies have died in the war, according to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, including 476 Californians.
Among them, one soldiers from Scotts Valley. From the CNN war casualties web site:
- Lance Cpl. Joseph Boyd Spence, a 24-year-old Scotts Valley man attached to the 3rdMarine Division was one of 30 Marines killed along with a Navy corspman when their CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed near Ar Rutba in western Iraq on January 26, 2005.
