[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the May 17, 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 30, 2010 through
May 6, 2010:

Army Staff Sgt. Esau S.A. Gonzales, 30, of White Deer, Texas; assigned to
the 38th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Army Sgt. Ralph Mena, 27, of Hutchinson, Kansas; assigned to 72nd
Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 7th Signal Brigade, 5th Signal Command,
Mannheim, Germany.

April 30, 2010 – May 6, 2010
Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 19

March 19, 2003 – May 6, 2010
Killed: 4,386; wounded in action: 31,809

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from April 30, 2010
through May 6, 2010:

Marine 1st Lt. Brandon A. Barrett, 27, of Marion, Indiana; assigned to 1st
Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Spc. Jeremy L. Brown, 20, of McMinnville, Tennessee; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Master Sgt. Mark W. Coleman, 40, of Centerville, Washington; assigned
to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
Washington.

Army Capt. Kyle A. Comfort, 27, of Jacksonville, Alabama; assigned to the
3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Davis, 19, of Perry, Iowa; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Cpl. Richard R. Penny, 21, of Fayetteville, Arkansas;
assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II
Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Rangel, 22, of San Antonio, Texas; assigned
to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Cpl. Kurt S. Shea, 21, of Frederick, Maryland; assigned to 3rd
Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Spc. Wade A. Slack, 21, of Waterville, Maine; assigned to the 707th
Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
Washington.

April 30, 2010 – May 6, 2010
Killed: 9; Wounded in action: 54

October 10, 2001 – May 6, 2010
Killed: 1,047; Wounded in action: 5,730

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of May 4, 2010)
http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100504ngr1.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.