[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the March 15, 2010 edition of the Army Times -

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No U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations in Iraq,
confirmed by the Defense Department from February 26, 2010 through March
4, 2010:

February 26, 2010 – March 4, 2010
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 13

March 19, 2003 – March 4, 2010
Killed: 4,370; wounded in action: 31,706

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from February 26, 2010
through March 4, 2010:

Marine Lance Cpl. Carlos A. Aragon, 19, of Orem, Utah; assigned to 4th
Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces
Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.

Army Spc. Josiah D. Crumpler, 27, of Hillsborough, North Carolina;
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th
Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Spc. Alan N. Dikcis, 21, of Niagara Falls, New York; assigned to the
630th Engineer Company (Clearance), 7th Engineer Battalion (Combat
Effects), 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat) (Airborne), Fort Drum, New York.

Army Spc. Matthew D. Huston, 24, of Athens, Georgia; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team,
82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Cpl. Nigel K. Olsen, 21, of Orem, Utah; assigned to the 4th
Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces
Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.

Army Sgt. Vincent L.C. Owens, 21, of Fort Smith, Arkansas; assigned to the
3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Spc. Anthony A. Paci, 30, of Rockville, Maryland; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 17th Infantry, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base
Lewis-McChord, Washington.

February 26, 2010 – March 4, 2010
Killed: 7; Wounded in action: 67

October 10, 2001 – March 4, 2010
Killed: 1,004; Wounded in action: 5,131

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of March 2, 2010)
http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100302ngr1.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 else'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
SFC, US Army (Retired)
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.