US military deaths in Afghanistan at 1,777 As of Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, at least 1,777 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count. The AP count is six less than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Tuesday at 10 a.m. At least 1,483 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers. Outside of Afghanistan, the department reports at least 109 more members of the U.S. military died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The AP count of total OEF casualties outside of Afghanistan is two more than the department's tally. Since the start of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, 15,415 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department. _Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II, 48, of Baltimore, Md.; died Feb. 25, from wounds received during an attack at the Interior Ministry, Kabul, Afghanistan; assigned to 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Division Security Partnering Team of the Maryland Army National Guard, Baltimore, Md. _Lt. Col. John D. Loftis, 44, of Paducah, Ky.; died Feb. 25 from wounds received during an attack at the Interior Ministry, Kabul, Afghanistan; assigned to the 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron, Kabul, Afghanistan. _ Two soldiers died Feb. 23, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their unit came under small arms fire: Sgt. Joshua A. Born, 25, of Niceville, Fla., and Cpl. Timothy J. Conrad Jr., 22, of Roanoke, Va. They were assigned to the 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Stewart, Ga. _Sgt. Allen R. McKenna Jr., 28, of Noble, Okla.; died Feb. 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.