[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the January 11, 2010 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 December 25, 2009
through December 31, 2009:

Army Spc. Brushaun X. Anderson, 20, of Columbus, Georgia; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

December 25, 2009 – December 31, 2009
Killed: 1; Wounded in action: 7

March 19, 2003 – December 31, 2009
Killed: 4,361; wounded in action: 31,613

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from December 25, 2009
through December 31, 2009:

Army Spc. Brian R. Bowman, 24, of Crawfordsville, Indiana; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Pvt. John P. Dion, 19, of Shattuck, Oklahoma; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Sgt. Joshua A. Lengstorf, 24, of Yoncalla, Oregon; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Air Force Senior Airman Bradley R. Smith, 24, of Troy, Illinois; assigned
to the 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Riley, Kansas.

Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino, 45, of Waterbury, Connecticut; assigned
to the 274th Forward Surgical Team, 44th Medical Command, Fort Bragg,
North Carolina.

December 25, 2009 – December 31, 2009
Killed: 5; Wounded in action: 17

October 10, 2001 – December 31, 2009
Killed: 936; Wounded in action: 4,737

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Casualty Status
(as of December 29, 2009)
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/casualty.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.