[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

>From the September 28, 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 September 11, 2009
through September 17, 2009:

Army Spc. Michael S. Cote Jr., 20, of Denham Springs, Louisiana; assigned
to the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Task Force 49, Fort
Wainwright, Alaska.

Air Force Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois, 22, of Lucas, Texas; assigned
to the 366th Security Forces Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base,
Idaho.

September 11, 2009 – September 17, 2009
Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 7

March 19, 2003 – September 17, 2009
Killed: 4,334; wounded in action: 31,513

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from September 11,
2009 through September 17, 2009:

Army Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Bohle, 29, of Glen Burnie, Maryland;
assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.

Army Sgt. David A. Davis, 28, of Dalhart, Texas; assigned to the 32nd
Transportation Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd
Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Sgt. Robert D. Gordon II, 22, of River Falls, Alabama; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team,
2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington.

Army  Spc. Corey J. Kowall, 20, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat
Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey, 33, of Peachtree City, Georgia;
assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.

Army Sgt. Andrew H. McConnell, 24, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team,
2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington.

Army Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills, 24, of El Paso, Texas; assigned to the
3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe, 31, of Niskayuna, New York; assigned to the
7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
(Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

Army 1st Lt. David T. Wright II, 26, of Moore, Oklahoma; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd
Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington.

Army Spc. Demetrius L. Void, 20, of Orangeburg, South Carolina; assigned
to the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade, III
Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Spc. Damon G. Winkleman, 23, of Lakeville, Ohio; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team,
82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

September 11, 2009 – September 17, 2009
Killed: 11; Wounded in action: 108

Oct. 10, 2001 – September 17, 2009
Killed: 824; Wounded in action: 4,089

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National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Mobilized
(as of September 15, 2009)
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2009/d20090915ngr.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.