The Iraq War, 10 Years of Casualties

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.

1st Lt. Michael L. LiCalzi, USMC, died in Iraq on May 11, 2006 fighting the war on terror. The Chaminade High School graduate drowned when his M1A1 battle tank rolled off a bridge into a canal in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The 24-year-old platoon commander in Company A of the US Marine Corps 2nd Tank Battalion was deployed to Iraq in late March of that year.

1st Lt. LiCalzi has been remembered as a hometown boy from Garden City who enjoyed many a youthful moment surfing the waves at Lido West Beach Park. Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and the Ace in the Hole Foundation, created in 2008 in Michael’s memory, have honored the fallen hero with a fundraising beach run/walk at Lido West for the past three years and plans are in the works for this year's event, set for May 11.

Please consider leaving a note for the fallen soldiers and their families.