What are noncombative deaths?

[jiacinto]

I've heard that term used here in conjuctions with people dying from "noncombative gunshot wounds". If someone dies from gunshot, how can that be "noncombative"? Does that mean that the soldier in question killed him or herself?

[KG]

1. their have been suicides

2. i think, and a couple of incident where a soldeir accidently shot another. wouldn't be surprised if there was a fragging or two committed in iraq.

but even in peacetime, the military is a dangerous job. one or 2 soldeirs die every day due to training accindent and such.

[donco6]

2. When a soldier was killed . . .

. . . on the side of the road in an accident with another vehicle, that was ruled a "noncombat" death.

Of course, they wouldn't have died had they not been on the side of the road, but that's another matter altogether.

[DrWeird]

3. A week or two ago...

An american vehicle carry troops encountered small arms fire. The vehicle lost control and crashed, killing a soldier. Thus the soldier in question died in a vehicle accident and thus it was noncombative. No shit.

[JohnKleeb]

4. accidents like vehicles and stuff

That said all the deaths are a pity to say the least.

[maggrwaggr]

5. I suspect a lot of fighting among the soldiers themselves

leading to violence and death.

[HawkerHurricane]

6. "The enemy didn't kill him,..."

It was bleeding to death or
An auto accident or
died of injuries sustained in combat or
suicide or
accidental shooting by friendly ('friendly fire') or
land mines(!) or
booby traps or...

It seems that they only count is as a combat death if the death occured because the enemy shot him.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. It means when the soldier was not a deliberate enemy target

There are so many ways to die in wartime. He could have been caught in crossfire, even by his own troops. There have been numerous vehicle accidents, drownings and many have died from illness. There is a ``mystery illness,'' similar in symptoms to pneumonia, that has killed several soldiers.

No, it does not mean suicide. These guys are struggling to stay alive long enough to make it home and I would imagine suicide to be rare.

The one thing you have to watch is the casualty numbers. They often don't count ``non-combative'' deaths. I agree with Will Pitt, who said ``dead is dead.''

They also kind of gloss over the wounded, as if it's no big deal because they weren't killed. I have seen news footage of these who were ``only wounded.'' Their wounds can be horrific. They are missing limbs and are often terribly crippled or disfigured. Their lives will never be the same. I would think these would be more likely to commit suicide, but I don't have any numbers on this.;(

[salin]

8. 2 wierd ones last month

"accidental falling off of building". Two different instances.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. I have heard, at least in the instance of Afghanistan,

that some combat deaths have been listed as accidents, to keep combat death numbers down, so the public doesn't realize how many Americans are really dying there or how many are really still fighting there.

It is a weird coincidence if two soldiers did accidentally fall off of buildings. It could be true, considering the rubble that many areas have been reduced to and the heavy, clumsy gear the troops are forced to wear in 120-degree heat.

[SoCalDem]

10. noncombative= any death they do not want to report..

In MY book, ANY death in Iraq is a "war" death..

The reservist who dies from an accident in Iraq would not have died if he had been on his regular job at the Home Depot, i Cleveland..

If you are in a war zone,it should be a combat related death:(

[Rhiannon12866]

11. I agree

As I said in my earlier post, quoting Will Pitt, ``dead is dead.'':-(