[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

>From the September 21, 2009 edition of the Army Times -

-------------------------------

The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Iraq, confirmed by the Defense Department from September 4, 2009
through September 10, 2009:

Air Force 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton, 24, of Monroe Georgia; was assigned to
the 6th Security Forces Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

Army Pfc. Thomas F. Lyons, 20, of Fernley, Nevada; assigned to the 545th
Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, U.S. Army,
Alaska, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Army Pfc. Zachary T. Myers, 21, of Delaware, Ohio; assigned to the 545th
Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, U.S. Army,
Alaska, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Army Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith, 31, of Marion, Ohio; assigned to the
545th Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, U.S.
Army, Alaska, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Duane A. Thornsbury, 30, of Bridgeport, West Virginia;
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Carson,
Colorado.

September 4, 2009 – September 10, 2009
Killed: 5; Wounded in action: 11

March 19, 2003 – September 10, 2009
Killed: 4,332; wounded in action: 31,506

-------------------------------

The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from September 4, 2009
through September 10, 2009:

Air Force Staff Sgt. Bryan D. Berky, 25, of Melrose, Florida; assigned to
the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.

Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Fowlkes, 20, of Gaffney, South Carolina;
assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine
Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr., 31, of Columbus, Georgia;
assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine
Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Marine 1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson, 25, of Virginia Beach, Virginia;
assigned to 7th Communications Battalion, 3rd Marine Headquarters Group,
III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Army Sgt. Tyler A. Juden, 23, of Winfield, Kansas; assigned to the 4th
Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne
Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick, 30, of Roswell, Georgia; assigned to
3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine
Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class James R. Layton, 22, of Riverbank,
California; assigned to an embedded training team with Combined Security
Transition Command in Afghanistan.

Army Sgt. Youvert Loney, 28, of Pohnpei, Micronesia; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek, 20, of DeKalb, Illinois; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team
(Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Marine Capt. Joshua S. Meadows, 30, of Bastrop, Texas; assigned to 1st
Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Special
Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, California.

Army 1st Lt. Tyler E. Parten, 24, of Arkansas; assigned to the 3rd
Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

September 4, 2009 – September 10, 2009
Killed: 11; Wounded in action: 174

Oct. 10, 2001 – September 10, 2009
Killed: 813; Wounded in action: 3,981

-------------------------------

National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Mobilized
(as of September 8, 2009)
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2009/d20090908ngr.pdf

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.