Misleading

Below is an email that was forwarded to me by my father in law. I typically hate recieveing forwards, but in this case I felt as though I had to respond. I have also included my response in blue.

FYI


Military Death Numbers Below is some very interesting data reference deaths in the military. I guarantee you will not read this in your local newspaper nor will you see it on the daily news broadcast. I pray this will help you to enlighten folks around you to the brave and courageous young people serving in our military.
> Deaths in the Military
> 1980 .......... 2,392 > 1981 .......... 2,380 > 1982 ......... 2,318 > 1983 .......... 2,465 > 1984 .......... 1,999 > 1985 .......... 2,252 > 1986 .......... 1,984 > 1987 .......... 1,983 > 1988 .......... 1,819 > 1989 .......... 1,636 > 1990 .......... 1,508 > 1991 .......... 1,787 > 1992 .......... 1,293 > 1993 .......... 1,213 > 1994 .......... 1,075 <> 1996 ........... 974 > 1997 .......... 817 > 1998 .......... 826 > 1999 .......... 795 > 2000 ......... 774 > 2001 .......... 890 > 2002 .......... 1,007 > 2003 .......... 1,410 [534*] > 2004 .......... 1,887 [900*] > 2005 .......... [919*] > 2006 .......... [920*] > > > Figures so noted with an asterisk (*) indicates deaths as a result of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. > > > > You may initially feel confused when you look at these figures - especially > when you see that in 1980, during the term of President Jimmy Carter, there > were 2,392 US military fatalities. What this clearly indicates is that our > media and our liberal politicians pick and choose and tend to present only > those facts that support their agenda driven reporting. > > > > Another fact our left media and politicians like to slant is that these > brave men and women losing their lives are minorities. > > > > Wrong again - > > The latest census shows the following: > > European descent (white).... 69.12% > Hispanic............................... 12.5% > African American................. 12.3% > Asian................................... 3.7% > Native American.................... 1.0% > Other.................................... 2.6% > > The fatalities over the past three years in Iraqi Freedom are: > > European descent (white)..... 74.31% > Hispanic............................... 10.74% > African American . . 9.67% > Asian.................................... 1.81% > Native American................... 1.09% > Other.................................... 2.33% > > These statistics are published by DOD and may be viewed at: > > http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf > > Pass this on, Semper Fi

The statistics are misleading. I have included information from the same site. It points out that in 1980 -2,392 were killed. Out of those killed 1,556 were killed by accidents, 0 from hostile action, and 231 committed suicide and 419 died of illness. Now lets look at 1985 the year with the most military deaths. 2,252 Total. 1,476 from accidents, none from hostile action, 111 from homicide, 363 from illness, 275 suicides, 5 from terrorists attacks, and 22 undetermined. How about more recently? year 2006= 1,858 dead. 465 from accidents, 753 from hostile action, 30 from homicide, 205 from illness, 238 pending confirmation (most likely hostile), 155 suicides, and 12 undetermined. It seems that we have come a long way with preventing accidents and diseases. Suicides went down significantly in the 90's, but sadly are on the rise once again. If you add up the total number of military deaths from hostile action from 1980-2002 it only totals 250. Compared to the 4,310 killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2003. Personally I don't care whether the service member killed was a minority or not. They are all my brothers and sisters in arms, and to trivialize their deaths by remarking their particular heritage seem sad.
adam reuter
Iraq War Veteran (Disabled)