10 Years After the Iraq War Began, Remembering Royersford's Lost Soldier

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the start of official operations in the Iraq War. 

On March 20, 2003, the U.S.-led coalition of armies invaded Iraq. The war officially ended for the United States on December 15, 2011, and the last troops left Iraq on December 18 of that year.

In all, 4,802 Americans and allies have died in the war, according to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, including almost 200 Pennsylvanians.

Among them, one soldier from Royersford - Captain Nathan Raudenbush, who died on February 20, 2008 when a roadside bomb exploded in southern Baghdad, killing him and injuring two other soldiers. 

Capt. Raudenbush served in the United States Army, Company D of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

According to Raudenbush's obituary, he was a 2001 Spring-Ford High School graduate. The son of Brian and Mary Raudenbush of Earl Township, Raudenbush was a longtime member of the Boy Scouts of America, and enjoyed distance running and golf. He left behind a wife, Casey, and their son, Jackson, of Port Wentworth, Ga.

Raudenbush was posthumously promoted to Captain. He was a 1st Lieutenant at the time of his death.

By one count, the war is directly responsible for 189,000 deaths, not including those who died from hardship caused by the fighting.

CNN has a stunning map of all casualties in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Feel free to leave a message of remembrance in the comments or share a favorite moment if you knew Captain Raudenbush.