[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

>From the August 10, 2009 edition of the Army Times -

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The following U.S. service member died while supporting combat operations
in Iraq, confirmed by the Defense Department from July 24, 2009 through
July 30, 2009:

Army Staff Sgt. Johnny R. Polk, 39, of Gulfport, Mississippi; assigned to
the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

July 24, 2009 – July 30, 2009
Killed: 1; wounded in action: 8

March 19, 2003 – July 30, 2009
Killed: 4,318; wounded in action: 31,454

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from July 24, 2009
through July 30, 2009:

Navy Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Andrew Scott Charpentier, 21,
of Great Falls, Montana; assigned to the Navy Expeditionary Guard
Battalion, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Army Pvt. Patrick S. Fitzgibbon, 19, of Knoxville, Tennessee; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Granado, 42, of Fairfax, Virginia; assigned
to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Jackson,
Mississippi.

Army Pfc. Richard K. Jones, 21, of Person, North Carolina; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Capt. Ronald G. Luce Jr., 27, of Fayetteville, North Carolina;
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne),
Jackson, Mississippi.

Marine  Lance Cpl. Gregory A. Posey, 22, of Knoxville, Tennessee; assigned
to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Pvt. Gerrick D. Smith, 19, of Sullivan, Illinois; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 130th Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard, Marion, Illinois.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan F. Stroud, 20, of Cashion, Oklahoma; assigned
to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Severin W. Summers III, 43, of Bentonia, Mississippi;
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne),
Jackson, Mississippi.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Douglas M. Vose III, 38, of Concrete,
Washington; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group,
Stuttgart, Germany.

Army Cpl. Jonathan M. Walls, 27, of West Lawn, Pennsylvania; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

July 24, 2009 – July 30, 2009
Killed: 11; Wounded in action: 68

Oct. 10, 2001 – July 30, 2009
Killed: 745; Wounded in action: 3,372

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National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Mobilized
(as of July 28, 2009)
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2009/d20090728ngr.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.