[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the December 21, 2009 edition of the Army Times -

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Iraq, confirmed by the Defense Department from December 4, 2009 through
December 10, 2009:

Marine Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas, 23, of Detroit, Michigan; assigned
to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Army Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley, 29, of Austell, Georgia; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry
Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Army Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello, 29, of Los Angeles, California; assigned to
the 3rd Aviation Support Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air
Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

December 4, 2009 – December 10, 2009
Killed: 3; Wounded in action: 7

March 19, 2003 – December 10, 2009
Killed: 4,356; wounded in action: 31,582

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from December 4, 2009
through December 10, 2009:

Army Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen, 31, of Panama City, Florida; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

Marine Cpl. Xhacob Latorre, 21, of Waterbury, Connecticut; assigned to 2nd
Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Sgt. Elijah J. Rao, 26, of Lake Oswego, Oregon; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

December 4, 2009 – December 10, 2009
Killed: 3; Wounded in action: 34

October 10, 2001 – December 10, 2009
Killed: 925; Wounded in action: 4,640

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Casualty Status
(as of December 8, 2009)
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/casualty.pdf

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And the beat goes on . . .

"Bring 'em Home"
http://www.tomandrodna.com/Songs/Bring_em_Home.mp3

"If you love this land of the free
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
Bring them back from overseas
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

It will make the politicians sad, I know
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
They wanna tangle with their foe
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

They wanna test their grand theories
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
With the blood of you and me
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

Now we'll give no more brave young lives
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
For the gleam in someone's eyes
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

The men will cheer and the boys will shout
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
Yeah and we will all turn out
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

The church bells will ring with joy
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
To welcome our darlin' girls and boys
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

We will lift our voice and sound
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
Yeah, when Johnny comes marching home
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home."

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Pro patria,

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the
tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

-- Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.