[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the April 25, 2011 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 April 8, 2011 through April 14,
2011:

April 8, 2011 – April 14, 2011
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 4

March 19, 2003 – April 14, 2011
Killed: 4,435; wounded in action: 32,069

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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 8, 2011 through April 14, 2011:

Army Sgt. 1st Class Charles L. Adkins, 36, of Sandusky, Ohio; assigned to
the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement
Brigade, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska.

Army  Spc. Paul J. Atim, 27, of Green Bay, Wisconsin; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division, Fort Drum, New York.

Army Spc. Joseph B. Cemper, 21, Warrensburg, Mo.  They were assigned to
the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st
Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Spc. Joseph A. Kennedy, 25, of St. Paul, Minnesota; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Army Sgt. Brent M. Maher, 31, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, Iowa National Guard, Shenandoah, Iowa.

Army Spc. Donald L. Nichols, 21, of Shell Rock, Iowa; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, Iowa Army National Guard, Waterloo,
Iowa.

Army Pvt. Brandon T. Pickering, 21, of Fort Thomas, Kentucky; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Army Sgt. Linda L. Pierre, 28, Immokalee, Florida; assigned to the 17th
Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade,
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska.

Army Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez, 22, of Waxahachie, Texas; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division, Fort Drum, New York.

Army Capt. Charles E. Ridgley Jr., 40, of Baltimore, Maryland; assigned to
the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement
Brigade, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska.

Army Staff Sgt. Cynthia R. Taylor, 39, of Columbus, Georgia; assigned to
the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement
Brigade, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska.

Army Spc. Charles J. Wren, 25, of Beeville, Texas; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division, Fort Drum, New York.

April 8, 2011 – April 14, 2011
Killed: 12; Wounded in action: 89

October 10, 2001 – April 14, 2011
Killed: 1,521; Wounded in action: 10,935

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of April  12, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110412ngr.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.