The wars and Western Massachusetts

The attacks of September 11, 2001

Sep 11, 2001

Coordinated attacks involving hijacked airliners kill 2,976 people from 90 countries. An FBI investigation links the hijackers to the terrorist organization al Qaeda.

President Bush addresses a joint session of Congress

Sep 20, 2001

In an address to a joint session of Congress, President George W. Bush issues a list of demands -- including a call to turn in al Qaeda's leaders -- to Afghanistan's Taliban regime. "The leadership of al Qaeda has great influence in Afghanistan and supports the Taliban regime in controlling most of that country. In Afghanistan we see al Qaeda's vision for the world," Bush says.

U.S. launches air strikes against Afghanistan

Oct 7, 2001

Military action in Afghanistan, known as "Operation Enduring Freedom," begins as 15 land-based bombers strike military targets and al Qaeda training camps inside Afghanistan.

Daniel H. Petithory

Dec 5, 2001

Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel H. Petithory, 32, of Cheshire, died Dec. 5, 2001 in a friendly fire bombing in Afghanistan.

"Operation Iraqi Freedom" begins

Mar 20, 2003

"American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger," President Bush says in a televised address.

Phillip A. Jordan

Mar 23, 2003

Marine Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan, 42, of Enfield, Conn., died March 23, 2003 near Nasiriyah, Iraq.

President Bush: "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended."

May 1, 2003

In a speech delivered aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, President Bush declares that major combat operations in Iraq have ended, and that "..now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country."

Gregory Belanger

Aug 27, 2003

Sgt. Gregory Belanger, 24, of Deerfield, died Aug. 27, 2003 when a bomb struck his vehicle in Hallia, Iraq.

Jeremy F. Regnier

Oct 10, 2003

Army Spc. Jeremy F. Regnier, 22, of Littleton, N.H., a native of Agawam, died Oct. 10, 2003 in a bomb explosion in Baghdad, Iraq.

Jeffrey F. Braun

Dec 12, 2003

Army Pfc. Jeffrey F. Braun, 19, of Stafford, Conn., died Dec. 12, 2003 from a non-hostile gunshot wound in Baghdad, Iraq.

Glenn R. Allison

Dec 18, 2003

Army Sgt. Glenn R. Allison, 24, of Pittsfield, died Dec. 18, 2003 during physical training in Baghdad, Iraq.

Stephen M. Wells

Feb 25, 2004

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Stephen M. Wells, 29, of North Egremont, died Feb. 25, 2004 in a helicopter crash in Habbinayah, Iraq.

Markus J. Johnson

Jun 1, 2004

Army Pfc. Markus J. Johnson, 20, of Springfield, died June 1, 2004 when a vehicle rolled over in Anbar Province, Iraq.

Travis J. Fuller

Jan 25, 2005

Marine 1st Lt. Travis J. Fuller, 26, of Granville, died Jan. 25, 2005 in a helicopter crash.

John W. Maloney

Jun 15, 2005

Marine Capt. John W. Maloney, 36, of Chicopee, died June 15, 2005 when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Ramadi, Iraq.

Leon G. James II

Oct 10, 2005

Army Lt. Col. Leon G. James II, 46, a Springfield native, died Oct. 10, 2005 in a bomb blast outside Baghdad, Iraq.

Stephen R. Bixler

May 4, 2006

Marine Cpl. Stephen R. Bixler, 20, of Suffield, Conn., died May 4, 2006 while on foot patrol in Iraq.

David J. Babineau

Jun 16, 2006

Army Spc. David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, died June 16, 2006 in an attack south of Baghdad, Iraq.

Clint J. Storey

Aug 4, 2006

Staff Sgt. Clint J. Storey, 30, of Enid, Okla., whose widow is from Palmer, died Aug. 4, 2006 in a bomb explosion in Ramadi, Iraq.

Philip A. Johnson

Sep 3, 2006

Marine Lance Cpl. Philip A. Johnson, 19, of Enfield, Conn., died Sept. 3, 2006 in a roadside attack west of Baghdad, Iraq.

Joshua L. Booth

Oct 17, 2006

Marine 2nd Lt. Joshua L. Booth, 23, of Sturbridge, died Oct. 17, 2006, in battle in Haditha, Iraq.

Christopher M. Wilson

Mar 29, 2007

Army Spc. Christopher M. Wilson, 24, formerly of Chicopee, died March 29, 2007 of injuries suffered in a grenade explosion at Korengal Outpost, Afghanistan.

Daniel A. Newsom

Jun 27, 2007

Army Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Newsome, 27, was killed by a roadside bomb on June 27, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.

Jeremy P. Bouffard

Aug 22, 2007

Army Cpl. Jeremy P. Bouffard, 21, of Middlefield, died Aug. 22, 2007 in a helicopter crash in Iraq.

Ari D. Brown-Weeks

Sep 10, 2007

Army Spc. Ari D. Brown-Weeks, 23, of Leyden died Sept. 10, 2007 in a truck accident in Iraq.

Kenneth J. Iwasinski

Oct 14, 2007

Army Spc. Kenneth J. Iwasinski, 22, of Belchertown, died Oct. 14, 2007 following a roadside bomb explosion in Baghdad, Iraq.

4,000th U.S. military death in Iraq

Mar 24, 2008

A roadside bomb kills four soldiers in southern Baghdad, bringing the total number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq to 4,000. [Reuters: Four U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, death toll 4,000]

Kevin A. Dupont

Jun 17, 2009

Army Sgt. 1st Class Kevin A. Dupont, 52, of Chicopee, died June 17, 2009, of injuries suffered when his vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan March 8.

President Obama: 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan

Dec 1, 2009

President Obama announces the commitment of an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan, to be deployed in early 2010. [Full text of the address.]

Joshua D. Desforges

May 12, 2010

Marine Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges, 23, of Ludlow, died May 12, 2010, in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

1,000th U.S. military death in Afghanistan

May 28, 2010

NATO reports the death of a U.S. service member in a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan. [NPR: 1,000th U.S. Military Death In Afghanistan]