U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan at 1,900
As of July 10, 2012, at least 1,900 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count.
At least 1,588 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result of hostile action, according to the military’s numbers.
Outside of Afghanistan, the department reports at least 114 more members of the U.S. military died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Of those, 12 were the result of hostile action.
The AP count of total OEF casualties outside of Afghanistan is one more than the department’s tally.
The Defense Department also counts three military civilian deaths.
Since the start of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, 16,781 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department. AP
Air Force freezes retirement of four jets in Massachusetts
U.S. Air Force officials are putting on hold plans to retire four cargo jets at Westover Air Reserve Base in western Massachusetts.
Westover was initially scheduled to lose the C-5A planes because of the Air Force’s decision to restructure.
Air Force officials now say they will put off that decision until after Congress completes action on the fiscal year 2013 defense authorization and defense appropriations bills.
The decision freezes the retirement of the planes at the 439th Airlift Wing’s cargo jet fleet at the base.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry had signed a letter asking the Air Force to delay any decision to retire the planes.
The letter, which was also signed by U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, also asked for a more “objective and transparent” force restructuring process. AP
