[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the May 2, 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 15, 2011 through April 21,
2011:

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Micah Aaron Hill, 27, of Ralston, Nebraska;
assigned to the USS Enterprise as a machinist’s mate.

Army Pfc. Antonio G. Stiggins, 25, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; assigned to
the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

Army 1st Lt. Omar J. Vazquez, 25, of Hamilton, New Jersey; assigned to the
2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

April 15, 2011 – April 21, 2011
Killed: 3; Wounded in action: 4

March 19, 2003 – April 21, 2011
Killed: 4,438; wounded in action: 32,073

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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 15, 2011 through April 21, 2011:

Army Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin F. Bitner, 37, of Greencastle, Pennsylvania;
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.

Marine Sgt. Sean T. Callahan, 23, of Warrenton, Virginia; assigned to the
3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Sgt. John P. Castro, 25, of  Andrews, Texas; assigned to1st
Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Marine Lance Cpl. Dominic J. Ciaramitaro, 19, of South Lyon, Michigan;
assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division,
II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Sgt. David P. Day, 26, of Gaylord, Michigan; assigned to 2nd Marine
Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S.
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, North
Carolina.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Hughes, 41, of Newark, Ohio; assigned to
the 528th Sustainment Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Staff Sgt. James, A. Justice, 32, of Grimes, Iowa; assigned to 1st 
Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Le Mars, Iowa.

Army Pfc. John F. Kihm, 19, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

Army Capt. Joshua M. McClimans, 30, of Akron, Ohio; assigned to the 848th
Forward Surgical Team, U.S. Army Reserve, Twinsburg, Ohio.

Army Sgt. Sonny J. Moses, 22, of Koror, Palau; assigned to the 101st
Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne
Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Chief Warrant Officer, Terry L. Varnadore II, 29, of  Hendersonville,
North Carolina; assigned to the 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 10th
Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

April 15, 2011 – April 21, 2011
Killed:11 ; Wounded in action: 88

October 10, 2001 – April 21, 2011
Killed: 1,532; Wounded in action: 11,023

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of April  19, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110419ngr.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.