[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the June 28, 2010 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 June 11, 2010 through
June 17, 2010:

Army Capt. Michael P. Cassidy, 41, of Simpsonville, South Carolina;
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Heavy Brigade
Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Army Spc. Christopher W. Opat, 29, of Spencer, Iowa; assigned to the 1st
Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd
Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

June 11, 2010 – June 17, 2010
Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 16

March 19, 2003 – June 17, 2010
Killed: 4,396; wounded in action: 31,860

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from June 11, 2010
through June 17, 2010:

Army Spc. Brian M. Anderson, 24, of Harrisonburg, Virginia; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

Army Spc. Scott A. Andrews, 21, of Fall River, Massachusetts; was assigned
to the 618th Engineer Support Company, 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th
Engineers Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Cpl. Michael C. Bailey, 29, of Park Hills, Missouri; assigned
to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, IMarine
Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
Twentynine Palms, California.

Army Spc. Matthew R. Catlett, 23, of Houston, Texas; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Spc. Nathan W. Cox, 27, of Fremont, California; assigned to
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st
Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell,
Kentucky.

Army Pfc. Gunnar R. Hotchkin, 31, of Naperville, Illinois; assigned to the
161st Engineer Support Company, 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat)
(Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade, 18th Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.

Army Staff Sgt. James P. Hunter, 25, of South Amherst, Ohio; assigned to
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd
Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell,
Kentucky.

Army Spc. Charles S. Jirtle, 29, of Lawton, Oklahoma; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Spc. Joseph D. Johnson, 24, of Flint, Michigan; assigned to the 161st
Engineer Support Company, 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne),
20th Engineer Brigade, 18th Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Sgt. Joshua A. Lukeala, 23, of Yigo, Guam; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Navy Seaman William Ortega, 23, of Miami, Florida; assigned as a hospital
corpsman to Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division,
I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Army Spc. Benjamin D. Osborn, 27, of Queensbury, New York; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Pfc. Benjamin J. Park, 25, of Fairfax Station, Virginia; assigned to
Company B, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Spc. Blaine E. Redding, 22, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Sgt. Mario Rodriguez, 24, of Smithville, Texas; assigned to the 264th
Clearance Company, 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne), 20th
Engineer Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy G. Serwinowski, 21, of North Tonawanda, New
York; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division,
II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Cpl. Jeffrey R. Standfest, 23, of St. Clair, Michigan; assigned to
3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, IIIMarine
Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
Twentynine Palms, California.

June 11, 2010 – June 17, 2010
Killed: 17; Wounded in action: 132

October 10, 2001 – June 17, 2010
Killed: 1,103; Wounded in action: 6,364

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of June 15, 2010)
http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100615ngr1.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 else'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
SFC, US Army (Retired)
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.