[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

 From the April 28, 2008 edition of the Army 
Times -

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U.S. service members who died while supporting 
combat operations in Iraq, confirmed by the 
Defense Department from April 11, 2008 through April 17, 2008:

Army Spc. Benjamin K. Brosh, 22, of Colorado 
Springs, Colorado; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 
327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Staff Sgt. Jason L. Brown, 29, of Magnolia, 
Texas; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special 
Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Navy Airman Apprentice Adrian M. Campos, 22, of 
El Paso, Texas; assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat 
Support Squadron 22, which was attached to the USNS Arctic.

Army Spc. Lance O. Eakes, 25, of Apex, North 
Carolina; assigned to the 1132nd Military Police 
Company, North Carolina Army National Guard, Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Army Spc. Arturo Huerta-Cruz, 23, of Clearwater, 
Florida; assigned to the 10th Brigade Support 
Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain 
Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

Marine Cpl. Richard J. Nelson, 23, of Racine, 
Wisconsin; assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 
2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Marine Lance Cpl. Dean D. Opicka, 29, of 
Waukesha, Wisconsin; assigned to Marine Forces 
Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 
4th Marine Division, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Army Sgt. Joseph A. Richard III, 27, of 
Lafayette, Louisiana; assigned to the 4th Brigade 
Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat 
Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), located at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

April 11, 2008 – April 17, 2008
Killed: 8; wounded in action: 104

March 19, 2003 – April 17, 2008
Killed: 4,026; wounded in action: 29,780

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The following U.S. service members died while 
supporting combat operations in Afghanistan, 
confirmed by the Defense Department from April 
11, 2008 through April 17, 2008:

Marine 1st Sgt. Luke J. Mercardante, 35, of 
Athens, Georgia; assigned to Combat Logistics 
Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II 
Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejuene, North Carolina.

Marine Cpl. Kyle W. Wilks, 24, of Rogers, 
Arkansas; assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 
24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine 
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejuene, North Carolina.

April 11, 2008 – April 17, 2008
Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 14

Oct. 10, 2001 – April 17, 2008
Killed: 489; Wounded in action: 1,939

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National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Mobilized
(as of April 16, 2008)
<http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2008/d20080416ngr.pdf>http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2008/d20080416ngr.pdf

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And the beat goes on . . .

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