Iraq War Casualties Hit Home

The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began 10 years ago on March 19, 2003, and although officially over, the fighting continues. 

By one count, the war is directly responsible for 189,000 deaths, not including those who died from hardship caused by the fighting, according to www.costofwar.com.

CNN has a 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 162 soldiers from Illinois.

Here is a look at Iraq and Afghanistan casualties from our area, according to the the CNN war casualties website:

• Jonathan William Collins, 19, of Crystal Lake, was killed on Aug. 8, 2004, during enemy action in Ramadi, Anbar province in Iraq. 
• Keith Alan Numberg, 26, of McHenry was killed on Sept. 5, 2007. He died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq. 
• Collier Edwin Barcus, 21, of McHenry was killled on July 8, 2004 along with four other soldier when a car bomb struck the Iraqi National Guard Headquarters building in Samarra, Iraq. 
• Terry Michael Lisk, 26, of Fox Lake died as a result of mortar rounds in Ramadi, Iraq on June 26, 2006. 
• Brian Donatus Slavenas, 30, of Genoa was one of three soldiers killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb and small-arms fire during combat operations in Salaman Park, Iraq on April 28, 2007. 

Amie Schaenzer contributed to this article.