[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

>From the August 17, 2009 edition of the Army Times -

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Iraq, confirmed by the Defense Department from July 31, 2009 through
August 6, 2009:

Army Spc. Richard A. Walters Jr., 41, of Cleveland, Ohio; assigned to the
14th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Army Pvt. Keiffer P. Wilhelm, 19, of Plymouth, Ohio; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored
Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

July 31, 2009 – August 6, 2009
Killed: 2; wounded in action: 6

March 19, 2003 – August 6, 2009
Killed: 4,320; wounded in action: 31,460

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from July 31, 2009
through August 6, 2009:

Marine Lance Cpl. James D. Argentine, 22, of Farmingdale, New York;
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division,
III Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii,
Kaneohe Bay.

Marine Lance Cpl. Travis T. Babine, 20, of San Antonio, Texas; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine
Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.

Marine Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Burrow, 23, of Naples, Florida; assigned to
2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Sgt. Jerry R. Evans Jr., 23, of Eufaula, Alabama; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

Marine Capt. Matthew C. Freeman, 29, of Richmond Hill, Georgia; assigned
to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine
Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony C. Garcia, 21, of Tyndall, Florida;
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Base
Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.

Marine Cpl. Christian A. Guzman-Rivera, 21, of Homestead, Florida;
assigned to the 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III
Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Marine Sgt. Jay M. Hoskins, 24, of Paris, Texas; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine
Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.

Marine Lance Cpl. Javier Olvera, 20, of Palmdale, California; assigned to
2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Cpl. Patrick W. Schimmel, 21, of Winfield, Missouri; assigned
to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Staff Sgt. Tara J. Smith, 33, of Nashville, North Carolina; assigned
to the 50th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps,
Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Spc. Matthew K.S. Swanson, 20, of Lake Forest, California; assigned
to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

July 31, 2009 – August 6, 2009
Killed: 12; Wounded in action: 70

Oct. 10, 2001 – August 6, 2009
Killed: 757; Wounded in action: 3,442

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National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Mobilized
(as of August 4, 2009)
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug%202009/d20090804ngr.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.