Freedom's Toll Honoring the Jewish GIs who died fighting in Iraq. NATE BLOOM Jewhoo.com r ighting for freedom is an American tradition: Whether it's on our own soil when we declared independence from England, or in Europe during World War II, or now in Iraq — American lives have been the cost of freedom: As we reflect on our freedom this July 4, it's appropriate to remember the most recent soldiers — at least nine Jews among them — who died fighting in Iraq. It is impossible to compile an absolutely accurate list of the Jewish service personnel who have been killed in Iraq. The Defense Department no longer keeps statistics on the religion of its personnel. Marine Cpl. Mark Asher Evnin, 21, of South Burlington, Vt., died April 3, 2003, of wounds received in action. He was a scout sniper with the 3/4 of the 1st Marine Division at 29 Palms, Calif. Cpl. Evnin is the best known of 4,1 7/ 2 2004 16 Moreover, Jewish chaplains observe a policy of strict confidentiality regard- ing the faith of service personnel and will neither confirm nor deny whether, a war casualty was Jewish. There is one more complication. Cheryl Waldman, public relations officer for the Jewish War Veterans, says that many Jewish service person- nel in Iraq are probably "flying under the radar." They do not want their religious status known lest it cause problems in their unit or, more seri- ously, that this fact becomes known to their enemies. Nevertheless, the names of nine Jewish men killed in combat have become part of the public record via obituary notices and similar sources. Here is the list, arranged by date of death: the Jewish war dead both because he-. was the first Jewish serviceman to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom and because he was among the first casu- alties of the war. His opened an emo- tional outpouring from Jews around the world when his story was told in a JTA article. "From Israel to New Jersey, people have been calling, writing. It has been incredible," said the corporal's mother, Mindy Evnin, in the JTA article. "I don't know why it is. Maybe it's because the war might help Israel. Maybe because my father was a rabbi. I don't know, but it gives me pleasure." Cpl. Evnin's traditional Jewish funeral attracted more than 1,000 mourners, including Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont. Army Spc. Jeffrey M. Wershow, 22, of Gainesville, Fla., assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Orlando, Fla., was shot and killed July 6, 2003, in Baghdad. He was a member of the Florida Army National Guard. Army Pfc. Jacob S. Fletcher, 26, of Bay Shore, N.Y., was killed Nov. 13, 2003. He was with Company C, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. Pfc. Fletcher was killed when an explosive device hit a bus he was rid- ing in. According to USA Today, "Wershow's unit became one of the first to enter- Iraq as the war began. Under cover of darkness and using night-vision goggles to see, they breached dirt berms on Iraq's borders with Jordan and Saudi Arabia to allow special operations forces to drive through ... The soldiers were led to believe they would be sent home in mid-May. Instead, [his company] was ordered to Baghdad. Wershow fretted that he would miss the fall semester at college." Spc. Wershow was guarding a detail of civilian Americans meeting with Iraqi university officials when he left the meeting after two hours to get a soft drink. He was fatally shot in the back of the neck by a gunman on the campus. The gunman escaped in the confusion that followed the shooting. He was inspired to join the mili- tary following the death of a friend in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. His father Marlowe told Newsday, "Whether people believe in the war or not, you have to believe in our soldiers. This was an American soldier, airborne. He was my beloved son and he was a hero." The Jewish War Veterans runs a program to assist Jewish service personnel in Iraq called "Operation SOS." Care packages are sent to soldiers who identify themselves as Jewish to the JWV or are identified by friends and families writing the JWV. Other supplies are sent to Jewish chaplains for distribution to soldiers. Contact Operation SOS by writing Jewish War Veterans, 1811 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009.