[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the April 5, 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 March 19, 2010 through March 25,
2010:

March 19, 2010 – March 25, 2010
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 7

March 19, 2003 – March 25, 2010
Killed: 4,376; wounded in action: 31,739

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from March 19, 2010
through March 25, 2010:

Marine Lance Cpl. Rick J. Centanni, 19, of Yorba Linda, California;
assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4thMarine
Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Camp Pendleton, California.

Marine Sgt. Maj. Robert J. Cottle, 45, of Whittier, California; assigned
to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4thMarine Division, Marine
Forces Reserve, Camp Pendleton, California.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Ross, 19, of Gillette, Wyoming; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II  Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Carlos M. Santos-Silva, 32, of Clarksville, Tennessee;
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th
Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Cpl. Justin J. Wilson, 24, of Palm City, Florida; assigned to
3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

March 19, 2010 – March 25, 2010
Killed: 5; Wounded in action: 53

October 10, 2001 – March 25, 2010
Killed: 1,013; Wounded in action: 5,317

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of March 23, 2010)
http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100323ngr1.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.