[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the April 18, 2011 edition of the Army Times –

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting Operation New
Dawn in Iraq, confirmed by the Defense Department from April 1, 2011
through April 7, 2011:

Army Sgt. Christian A. S. Garcia, 30, of Goodyear, Arizona; assigned to
the Maintenance Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Staff Sgt. Quadi S. Hudgins, 26, of New Orleans, Louisiana; assigned
to the Maintenance Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Spc. Gary L. Nelson III, 20, of Woodstock, Georgia; assigned to the
6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Third
Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Army Sgt. Vorasack T. Xaysana, 30, of Westminster, Colorado; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Fort
Hood, Texas.

April 1, 2011 – April 7, 2011
Killed: 4; Wounded in action: 14

March 19, 2003 – April 7, 2011
Killed: 4,435; wounded in action: 32,065

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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 April 1, 2011 through April 7, 2011:

Army Spc. Keith T. Buzinski, 26, of Daytona Beach, Florida; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

Army Sgt. Jose M. Caraballo-Pietri, 32, of Yauco, Puerto Rico; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade
Combat Team, Baumholder, Germany.

Navy Seaman Benjamin D. Rast, 23, of Niles, Michigan; assigned as a
hospitalman to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine
Division.  Rast was stationed at Naval Medical Center, Expeditionary
Medical Force Detachment, San Diego, California.

Marine Staff Sgt. Jason A. Rogers, 28, of Brandon, Mississippi; assigned
to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Smith, 26, of Arlington, Texas; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine
Forces Reserve, based out of Houston, Texas.

April 1, 2011 – April 7, 2011
Killed: 5; Wounded in action: 106

October 10, 2001 – April 7, 2011
Killed: 1,509; Wounded in action: 10,846

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of April  5, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110405ngr.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.