At least 741 Americans have died in the Afghan war since the U.S.-led invasion in late 2001. Nearly 60 percent of those deaths occurred since the Taliban insurgency began to rebound in 2007. At least 51 Americans were killed last month alone, the deadliest month since the war began.

Eighteen members of the Illinois National Guard have been killed since September 2008:

September 17, 2008

Sgt. Joshua W. Harris, 21, of Romeoville, Ill., died September 17 in Gerdia Seria, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion 122nd Field Artillery, Illinois Army National Guard, Robbins, Ill.

September 17, 2008

Staff Sgt. Jason A. Vazquez, 24, of Chicago, Ill., died September 17 in Gerdia Seria, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion 122nd Field Artillery, Illinois Army National Guard, Sycamore, Ill.

October 27, 2008

Sgt. Kevin D. Grieco, 35, of Bartlett, Ill., died Oct. 27 in Baghlan, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when a suicide bomber detonated explosives as they were preparing to enter a building. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery, Illinois Army National Guard, Sycamore, Ill.

February 8, 2009

Staff Sgt. Jason E. Burkholder, 27, of Champaign, Ill., died Feb. 8 in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment of Marion, Ill.

February 8, 2009

1st Lt. Jared W. Southworth, 26, of Oakland, Ill., died Feb. 8 in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment of Marion, Ill.

February 24, 2009

Sgt. Schuyler B. Patch, 25, of Galva Ill., died Feb. 24, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Kewanee, Ill.

February 24, 2009

Sgt. Scott B. Stream, 39, of Mattoon, Ill., died Feb. 24, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Effingham, Ill.

March 1, 2009

Spc. Simone A. Robinson, 21, of Dixmoor, Ill., died March 1 at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near her security post on Jan. 17 in Kabul, Afghanistan. She was assigned to the 634th Brigade Support Battalion of the Illinois Army National Guard, Crestwood, Ill.

March 17, 2009

Sgt. Christopher P. Abeyta, 23, of Midlothian, Ill., died March 15 a result of injuries sustained in Kot, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Abeyta was transported to Jalabad, Afghanistan, where he later died. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Woodstock, Ill.

March 17, 2009

Sgt. Robert M. Weinger, 24, of Round Lake Beach, Ill., died March 15 a result of injuries sustained in Kot, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Weinger was transported to Jalabad, Afghanistan, where he later died. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Woodstock, Ill.

March 17, 2009

Spc. Norman L. Cain III, 22, of Mt. Morris, Ill., died March 15 a result of injuries sustained in Kot and he died at the scene of the incident in Kot, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Woodstock, Ill.

May 10, 2009

Sgt. Lukasz D. Saczek, 23, of Lake in the Hills, Ill., died May 10 in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, Woodstock, Ill.

June 19, 2009

Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Melton, 26, of Carlyle, Ill., died June 19 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry, Marion, Ill.

June 19, 2009

Sgt. Paul G. Smith, 43, of East Peoria, Ill., died June 19 in Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry, Aurora, Ill.

July 6, 2009

1st Lt. Derwin I. Williams, 41, of Glenwood, Ill., died July 6 in Konduz, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to Troop B, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry based in Dixon, Ill.

July 6, 2009

Spc. Chester W. Hosford, 35, of Ottawa, Ill., died July 6 in Konduz, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to Troop B, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry based in Dixon, Ill.

July 7, 2009

Spc. Christopher M. Talbert, 24, of Galesburg, Ill., died July 7 in Shindad, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry based in Marion, Ill.

July 29, 2009

Spc. Gerrick D. Smith, 19, of Sullivan, Ill., died July 29 in Herat, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard, Marion, Ill.

SOURCE: Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office, Springfield.