Whether you're for or against the US operations in Iraq, whether you believe we're doing the right or wrong thing, you really should read the list and remember these people and their families in your prayers or thoughts.

There have been 747 coalition deaths, 644 Americans, 59 Britons, five Bulgarians, one Dane, one Estonian, 17 Italians, two Poles, one Salvadoran, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and four Ukrainians, in the war as of April 8, 2004. The list below reflects the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors whose families have been notified of their deaths by each country's government. There have been 2,988 U.S. troops wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,82432,00.html
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/honor.html

They left out Islamic militants, likely because it would use too much bandwidth.

Nice shot! Long range and dead-on.



MTI. Good for you. Thanks for the reminder.

B

Kinda brings it home, huh?

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

What are ya'll planning for Memorial Day? Beer and a race?

We usually visit my Mother, and talk about her deceased husband, my Father, (both Mother and Father were WWII veterans, USN) and other family and friends and acquaintances whom she has known and loved and lost over her 87 years. One of my brothers, both army veterans, or I (Navy) I usually toast her and my Dad for their service to their country.

Then we go visit my in-laws. My F-in-law is retired AF and so is his son, my B-in-law. A cousin of theirs, disabled Ranger of Normandy and the Rhine campaigns, passed recently. He had a .219 Bee that I always wanted.

I haven't been to my Dad's grave in years. Its at the National Cemetary in Pineville, LA. My Mother longs to join him in eternal rest, lovers and veterans.

Botnst

That's a great family history B.

Is that a .218 Bee? Does it have a Martini action? My uncle has one that was passed on by my Grandfather, its fun to shoot.

That's right, .218 Bee. Was there a .219 anything or did I make that up?

Is Martini a single-shot bilt action? This one is lever action'd. Don't recall the mfr. Marlin maybe? That ol' guy used to shoot deer raiding his garden through the ear with it. About 50 to 80 yds, I guess. Big garden. Fat, tasty deer.

B

There was a .219 Zipper that never really caught on. The Martini action is shown below its a single shot and works flawlessly unless a casing expands so start your loads low, many .218s were using .22 rimfire barrels which are .221 while the .218 is actually .222 or something like that. If its a single shot I would bet its a Martini.

If you do have an expansion issue have it Ackley improved.

Good reminder about Memorial Day, but sometimes we forget about the wounded and other vets. Just this week there was a story about US forces in Iraq suffering affects after being exposed to dust and fragments from depleted uranium rounds that we used in the initial attacks. Then again, will we hear about the long term effects of the dust and fragments on NGO workers, civilians and other personel . . .

Thanks for remembering me.

They don't keep lists on militants, but here's what we have for "non-combatants." I'm sure there's a clerk somewhere tracking the payments.



http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/17/international/middleeast/17CIVI.html?ex=1081569600&en=303609a390a4acec&ei=5070

Military officials say they do not have precise figures or even estimates of the number of noncombatant Iraqis killed and wounded by American-led forces in Iraq. "We don't keep a list," said a Pentagon spokeswoman, Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell. "It's just not policy." But nonprofit groups in Iraq and the United States say there were thousands of civilian casualties. According to Civic, a nonprofit organization that has surveyed Iraqi hospitals, burial societies and hundreds of families, more than 5,000 civilians were killed between March 20, when the war started, and May 1, when major combat operations ended. "It says a lot that the military doesn't even keep track of these things," said Marla Ruzicka, Civic's founder

I knew something was up, isn't the real fishing pretty good in Hawaii?

Not gonna bite and thanks again!

You're welcome. Frankly, if I was "fishin" for the likes of you, I'd have thrown ya back.

Gotta throw back the big ones. Thanks again.

BTW: Ignore.

I wouldn't fit in your dingy anyway.

You're welcome . . . again . . . now shoo, I'm going for the gamefish.