Oregon Guardsman In Iraq die at high rate

In a story related to Jazz's post below the Portland Oregonian reports that one of every 210 Oregon Guardsmen in Iraq has died, a death rate nearly triple that of the entire National Guard.

One of every 210 Oregon Guard soldiers in Iraq has been killed since deployments began last year, while the National Guard's death rate is one in about 606. As of this week, about one of every 379 active-duty Army soldiers in Iraq has died.

The disparity between the death rates would have been more pronounced before the soldiers of Oregon's 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry reached Iraq this week. Removing those 560 soldiers from the equation, the casualty rate of the Oregon Guard would be about one in 148.

The Oregon Guardsman are trusted canon fodder.

Col. J. Michael Caldwell, deputy director of the Oregon Military Department, said Thursday that the death toll -- all but one coming from the Guard's 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry -- is grim confirmation that the Army's 1st Cavalry Division, to which the battalion is attached, places a great deal of trust in the Oregon soldiers.

"Hurrah for that reputation," he said. But, he noted, "it puts you in the breach."

It's not too surprising that the Oregon National Guard is having trouble meeting it's recruitment goals.