[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the September 5, 2011 edition of the Army Times –

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No U.S. service members died while supporting Operation New Dawn in Iraq,
confirmed by the Defense Department from August 19, 2011 through August
25, 2011:

August 19, 2011 – August 25, 2011
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 3

March 19, 2003 – August 25, 2011
Killed: 4,464; wounded in action: 32,175

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting Operation
Enduring Freedom combat operations in Afghanistan, confirmed by the
Defense Department from August 19, 2011 through August 25, 2011:

Army Pfc. Jesse W. Dietrich, 20, of Venus, Texas; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division, Fort Drum, New York.

Army Spc. Douglas J. Green, 23, of Sterling, Virginia; assigned to the 3rd
Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th
Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Army Pfc. Brandon S. Mullins, 21, of Owensboro, Kentucky; assignedto the
3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team,
25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Army Spc. Michael C. Roberts, 23, of Watauga, Texas; to the 561st Military
Police Company, 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Sustainment
Brigade, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army 1st Lt. Timothy J. Steele, 25, of Duxbury, Massachusetts; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

Army Sgt. Andrew R. Tobin, 24, of Jacksonville, Illinois; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

August 19, 2011 – August 25, 2011
Killed: 6; Wounded in action: 131

October 10, 2001 – August 25, 2011
Killed: 1,729; Wounded in action: 13,347

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of August 23, 2011)
http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110823ngr.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.