[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

>From the September 7, 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 August 21, 2009 through
August 27, 2009:

Army 2nd Lt. Joseph D. Fortin, 22, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont; assigned to
1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry
Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Pvt. Taylor D. Marks, 19, of Monmouth, Oregon; assigned to the 41st
Special Troops Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oregon
Army National Guard in Portland.

Army Sgt. Earl D. Werner, 38, of Mondovi, Wisconsin; assigned to the 41st
Special Troops Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oregon
Army National Guard in Portland.

August 21, 2009 – August 27, 2009
Killed: 3; wounded in action: 14

March 19, 2003 – August 27, 2009
Killed: 4,325; wounded in action: 31,483

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from August 21, 2009
through August 27, 2009:

Army Staff Sgt. Kurt R. Curtiss, 27, of Murray, Utah; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team
(Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Army Staff Sgt. Jason S. Dahlke, 29, of Orlando, Florida; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

Marine Lance Cpl. David R. Hall, 31, of Elyria, Ohio; assigned to 2nd
Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Capt. John L. Hallett III, 30, of California; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry
Division, Fort Lewis, Washington.

Army Pfc. Eric W. Hario, 19, of Monroe, Michigan; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

Marine Lance Cpl. Donald J. Hogan, 20, of San Clemente, California; 
assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I
Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

Army  Capt. Cory J. Jenkins, 30, of Arizona; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry
Division, Fort Lewis, Washington.

Army Cpl. Darby T. Morin, 25, of Victoria, Canada; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Ronald W. Sawyer, 38, of Trenton, Missouri; assigned
to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd
Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington.

Army Spc. Abraham S. Wheeler III, 22, of Columbia, South Carolina;
assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

Army Pfc. Matthew E. Wildes, 18, of Hammond, Louisiana; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Pfc. Dennis M. Williams, 24, of Federal Way, Washington; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd
Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington.

August 21, 2009 – August 27, 2009
Killed: 12; Wounded in action: 108

Oct. 10, 2001 – August 27, 2009
Killed: 794; Wounded in action: 3,722

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National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Mobilized
(as of August 25, 2009)
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2009/d20090825ngr.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.