Endgame Viable

I heard on the radio this morning that a soldier from Lynchburg, Private 1st Class Chris Murphy, was killed in the ambush that also resulted in 3 kidnapped American soldiers. From the Times-Dispatch: “He was very dedicated to this,” she said. “He said he had made the right decision and was thinking of making a career of [the military].”

It reminded me that I have been doing a terrible job of keeping up with Virginia KIAs.

In addition to Private Murphy, Sergeant Forrest D. Cauthorn of Midlothian and Staff Sergeant Christopher S. Kiernan of Virginia Beach were killed in Iraq in May.

I also failed to note that Sergeant Joshua J. Frazier of Spotsylvania was killed in February.

The complete list of Virginians killed in Iraq in 2007, according to the Coalition Casualty Count:

• 2007-05-12, Murphy, Christopher E., Private 1st Class, Lynchburg
• 2007-05-06, Kiernan, Christopher S., Staff Sergeant, Virginia Beach
• 2007-05-05, Cauthorn, Forrest D., Sergeant, Midlothian
• 2007-04-01, Arnette, Jason R., Staff Sergeant, Amelia
• 2007-03-03, Peek, Michael C., Sergeant, Chesapeake
• 2007-03-05, Stanley, Robert, Staff Sergeant, Spotsylvania
• 2007-02-16, Frazier, Joshua J., Sergeant, Spotsylvania
• 2007-02-14, Morris, Daniel T., Lance Corporal, Crimora
• 2007-01-20, Booker, Daryl D., Staff Sergeant, Midlothian
• 2007-01-20, Kelly, Paul M., Colonel, Stafford

Previously:

• Staff Sgt. Jason Arnette
• Staff Sgt. Robert Stanley and Sgt. Michael C. Peek
• Lance Cpl. Daniel Morris
• Col. Paul M. Kelly and Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker