The Iraq War, 10 Years of Casualties: Marin 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 developed 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 476 Californians.

Among them are three soldiers from Marin. From the CNN war casualties web site:

Nicholas Paul Olson, Novato

Olson is one of three soldiers who died of wounds suffered when a roadside bomb exploded near their unit during combat operations in Muqtadya, Iraq, on September 18, 2007. The 22-year-old Olson served in the Second Infrantry Division.

Olson's family, along with the family of Jake Velloza of Inverness, received the B.P.O. Elks Medal of Valor in November 2011, "acknowledging the ultimate sacrifice of these two young men and their families have made."

Ray Michael Fuhrmann II, Novato

Fuhrmann, 28, was one of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their Humvee following a mine-assessing mission in Samarra, Iraq, on August 18, 2005. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest military decoration for valor, for his actions on March 22, 2005, when his unit was attacked near Samarra.

According to his award citation, several Iraqi commandos were wounded and "without regard for his safety, Specialist Fuhrmann braved extremely heavy enemy fire and went to the Iraqis to treat their wounds. As he treated the wounded, he also fired his rifle and pistol to support his unit's counterattack. When he ran out of ammunition, he seized one of the wounded Iraqis' rifles and continued to fire in support of the assault and to protect the wounded. Specialist Fuhrmann's actions during the firefight saved the lives of six Iraqi commandos and helped prevail over the enemy."

Jake Robert Velloza, Inverness

Marin lost another soldier on May 2, 2009, when 22-year-old Jake Robert Velloza of Inverness was one of two soldiers who died of wounds sustained after they were shot by enemy forces in Mosul, Iraq.

Did you know Nick, Ray or Jake? Share your memories of or tributes to them in the Comments section below.