First Casualties

MSNBC is reporting on the identity of the first combat casualty:

One of the slain was from the U.S. 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Lt. Col. Neal Peckham, a British military spokesman, said Friday.

I have to admit a bit of shock at the death of an O-5 in combat, particularly as a lone casualty. I have tremendous respect for leading from the front, as this Marine almost certainly was. Still, it seems strange that such a high-ranking officer was the only loss in the battle. Hopefully that casualties will stay low as long as possible.

UPDATE: Wow, looks like I really misread the sentence. Apparently LTC Peckham IS the military spokesman.

That makes much more sense, though the death is no less saddening.