[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the October 11, 2010 edition of the Army Times –

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No U.S. service members died while supporting Operation New Dawn in Iraq,
confirmed by the Defense Department from September 24, 2010 through
September 30, 2010:

September 24, 2010 – September 30, 2010
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 13

March 19, 2003 – September 30, 2010
Killed: 4,424; wounded in action: 31,959

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting Operation
Enduring Freedom combat operations in Afghanistan, confirmed by the
Defense Department from September 24, 2010 through September 30, 2010:

Marine Lance Cpl. Ralph J. Fabbri, 20, of Gallitzin, Pennsylvania;
assigned to the Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

Air Force Senior Airman Mark Forester, 29, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama;
assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base,
NorthCarolina.

Army Staff Sgt. Willie J. Harley Jr., 48, of Aiken, South Carolina;
assigned to the 1221st Engineer Clearance Company, Graniteville, South
Carolina.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Calvin B. Harrison, 31, of San Antonio, Texas;
assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Fort Bragg,
North Carolina.

Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy M. Jackson, 22, of Corbin, Kentucky;  assigned
to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Sgt. Anthony D. Matteoni, 22, of Union City, Michigan; assigned to
2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Sgt. Justin A.  Officer, 26, of Wichita, Kansas; assigned to 1st
Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne
Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Spc. Joseph T. Prentler, 20, of Fenwick, Michigan; assigned to the
3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Army Spc. Luther W. Rabon Jr., 32, of Lexington, South Carolina; assigned
to the 1221st Engineer Clearance Company, Graniteville, South Carolina.

Army  Sgt. Brian J. Pedro, 27, of Rosamond, California; assigned to the
2nd Engineer Battalion, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Lance H. Vogeler, 29, of Frederick, Maryland; assigned
to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

September 24, 2010 – September 30, 2010
Killed: 11; Wounded in action: 152

October 10, 2001 – September 30, 2010
Killed: 1,304; Wounded in action: 8,263

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of September 28, 2010)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d201009028ngr.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)
Astoria, Oregon

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the
tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

 -- Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.