The Iraq War, 10 Years of Casualties: Norcross Feels its Touch

The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began 10 years ago this week -- on March 19, 2003 -- and although officially "over," fighting continues with discouraging persistence.

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

CNN has a stunning 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 41 Virginians.

Among them, two people are from the Norcross/Peachtree Corners area. From the CNN war casualties web site:

• Sgt. Lonnie James Parson, 39. Parson was killed when his M3A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sept. 2, 2005.
• Sgt. Paul Anthony Saylor, 21. Saylor was one of three soldiers killed when their Humvee accidentally rolled over into a canal in Mahmudiya, Iraq, on Aug. 15, 2005.

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