[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the May 31, 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 May 14, 2010 through May
20, 2010:

Army Staff Sgt. Amilcar H. Gonzalez, 26, of Miami, Florida; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd
Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Army Spc.  Stanley J. Sokolowski, 20, of Chicago, IIIinois; assigned to
Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss,
Texas.

May 14, 2010 – May 20, 2010
Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 12

March 19, 2003 – May 20, 2010
Killed: 4,388; wounded in action: 31,822

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from May 14, 2010
through May 20, 2010:

Army Pfc. Billy G. Anderson, 20, of Alexandria, Tennessee; assigned to the
508th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne
Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Staff Sgt. Shane S. Barnard, 38, of Desmet, South Dakota; assigned to
the 3rd Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Joint Base
Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army Lt. Col. Paul R. Bartz, 43, of Waterloo, Wisconsin; assigned to
Headquarters, 10th  Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New
York.

Army Lt. Col. Thomas P. Belkofer, 44, of Perrysburg, Ohio; assigned to
Headquarters, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New
York.

Marine Lance Cpl. Philip P. Clark, 19, of Gainesville, Florida; assigned
to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Pfc. Jason  D.  Fingar, 24, of Columbia, Missouri; assigned to the
4th Battalion, 23rd  Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team,
2nd  Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army Col. John M. McHugh, 46, of New Jersey; assigned to the U.S. Army
Battle Command Training Program, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Marine Staff Sgt. Adam L. Perkins, 27, of Antelope, California; assigned
to 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California/

Army Staff Sgt. Richard J. Tieman, 28, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania;
assigned to Special Troops Battalion, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany.

Army Spc. Joshua A. Tomlinson, 24, of Dubberly, Louisiana; aassigned to
Special Troops Battalion, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany.

Marine Lance Cpl. Patrick Xavier Jr., 24, of Pembroke Pines, Florida;
assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II
Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

May 14, 2010 – May 20, 2010
Killed: 11; Wounded in action: 86

October 10, 2001 – May 20, 2010
Killed: 1,065; Wounded in action: 5,917

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of May 18, 2010)
http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100518ngr1.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.