The_Enigma wrote:Overall, US Army Deaths, including USAAF, by theater, and includes KIA, DOW, POW-KIA, POW-DOW, POW-NBD, MIA-DD, and MIA-NBD:
Atlantic Area Theaters:
Africa-Middle East – 1,031
Caribbean & South Atlantic - 38
European – 135,576
Mediterranean – 40,455
TOTAL – 177,100
Figure i have for US involement in North Africa is from November 12th 1942 - May 13 1943 is:
2,715 killed
8,978 wounded
6,528 missing
These figures are quoted in Atkinsons 'An Army at Dawn' and are also quoted in the British Official History Volume IV of the Med and Middle East series by Playfair (i know, not the premier source for American losses but why would they nearly treble American deaths?).
From Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths In World War II - Final Report, 7 December 1941 - 31 December 1946. Department of the Army, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953:
From page 8
For the Africa-Middle East Theater:
Total battle casualties: 3,959
This is derived from:
Killed in action: 930 plus the
Wounded or injured in action: 536 plus the
Captured and interned: 1590 plus the
Missing in action: 903
Equals 3,959
Total battle deaths: 1,031
This is derived from:
Killed in action: 930 plus the
Died of wounds or injuries sustained in action: 17 plus the
POW killed in action: 2 plus the
POW died of other causes: 1 plus the
MIA declared dead: 81
Equals 1,031
Non-Death Casualties: 2928
This is derived from:
Wounded Evacuated to US for discharge or return to duty: 117 plus the
Wounded returned to duty in theater: 402 plus the
POW returned to military control: 1,587 plus the
MIA returned to duty: 822
Equals 2,928
And 2,928 plus 1,031 equals 3959
Pages 28 and 29 of this report will give you a month by month accounting
Pages 50 and 51 will give you a officers by branch/corps and enlisted by branch/corps accounting
Frankly, I think you are quoting Atkinson correctly, but perhaps your interpretation of the definition of the Africa-Middle East Theater and the US Army’s definition are two (or three counting Atkinson) entirely different animals as the vast majority of the casualties accounted for in the Army report for the Africa-Middle East Theater are USAAF (see page 84). Specifically:
Total Battle Deaths:
Combat Divisions: 0
USAAF: 3,723
Other Units: 79
Organizations undetermined: 157
Total: 3,959.
Now, if you want to talk about the Mediterranean Theater (of which I believe your quoted Atkinson figures are a sub-set of 175,107 total casualties including 35,313 KIA for the entire war) that is a whole different ballgame.
Looking on page 34 for the US Army monthly breakdown of casualties for the Mediterranean Theater:
7 December 41 to 31 October 1942
Total Casualties: 146
Total KIA: 18
Total WIA including deaths: 65
Total POW including deaths: 45
Total MIA including deaths: 18
Total deaths including KIA, WIA, POW, & MIA: 29
And
From 1 November 1942 through 31 May 43 (closest I can get to the period you cite):
Total Casualties: 18,764
Total KIA: 3,326
Total WIA including deaths: 10,319
Total POW including deaths: 4,510
Total MIA including deaths: 609
Total deaths including KIA, WIA, POW, & MIA: 3,905
And of the POWs, 53 died of various battle or non-battle causes and 4,457 were returned to military control. For the MIA's 165 were declared to have died and 444 were returned to duty/military control. 361 of the WIA died of their wounds or injuries and 9,958 were either discharged or returned to duty.
Rich
