[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the May 10, 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 April 23, 2010 through
April 29, 2010:

Army Sgt. Keith A. Coe, 30, of Auburndale, Florida; assigned to 1st
Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team,
2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army Sgt. Anthony O. Magee, 29, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd
Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia.

April 23, 2010 – April 29, 2010
Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 12

March 19, 2003 – April 29, 2010
Killed: 4,384; wounded in action: 31,790

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from April 23, 2010
through April 29, 2010:

Air Force Airman 1st Class Austin H. Gates Benson, 19, of Hellertown,
Pennsylvania; assigned to the 54th Combat Communications Squadron at
Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

Army 1st Lt. Salvatore S. Corma, 24, of Wenonah, New Jersey; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 508th  Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat
Team, 82nd  Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Sgt. Nathan P. Kennedy, 24, of Claysville, Pennsylvania; assigned to
2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas E. Rivers Jr., 22, of Birmingham, Alabama;
assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II
Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Sgt. Grant A. Wichmann, 27, of Golden, Colorado; assigned to the 3rd
Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

April 23, 2010 – April 29, 2010
Killed: 5; Wounded in action: 47

October 10, 2001 – April 29, 2010
Killed: 1,038; Wounded in action: 5,676

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of April 27, 2010)
http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100427ngr1.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.