The Iraq War, 10 Years of Casualties: North Allegheny Feels Its Touch

The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began 10 years ago this week—on March 19, 2003—and although it is 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 assembled a map identifying 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 196 Pennsylvanians.

Among those casualties: a young paratrooper from Franklin Park. 

Capt. Erick Matthew Foster, 29, died Aug. 29, 2007 while serving in his second tour of duty in Iraq, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

Foster was the commander of A Troop, 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was killed when insurgents attacked his unit during combat operations in Muqtadya, according to the CNN war casualties website.

A native of Venango County, Foster moved to Franklin Park when he was in middle school and graduated in 1996 from  according to the Post-Gazette. He received numerous awards for his service in Iraq.

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