[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the August 29, 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 August 12, 2011 through August
18, 2011:

August 12, 2011 – August 18, 2011
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 7

March 19, 2003 – August 18, 2011
Killed: 4,464; wounded in action: 32,172

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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 August 12, 2011 through August 18, 2011:

Army Pfc. Douglas L. Cordo, 20, of Kingston, New York; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry
Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Army Sgt. Matthew A. Harmon, 29, of Bagley, Minnesota; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Grafenwoehr,
Germany.

Army Spc. Dennis G. Jensen, 21, of Vermillion, South Dakota; assigned to
the 153rd Engineer Battalion, 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Sioux
Falls, South Dakota.

Army 1st Lt. Damon T. Leehan, 30, of Edmond, Oklahoma; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
Oklahoma National Guard, Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Marine Lance Cpl. Travis M. Nelson, 19, of Pace, Florida; assigned to 1st
Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Master Sgt. Charles L. Price III, 40, of Milam, Texas; assigned to
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Spc. Joshua M. Seals, 21, of Porter, Oklahoma; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Army Spc. Joseph A. VanDreumel, 32, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade
Grafenwoehr, Germany.

August 12, 2011 – August 18, 2011
Killed: 8; Wounded in action: 152

October 10, 2001 – August 18, 2011
Killed: 1,723; Wounded in action: 13,216

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of August 16, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110816ngr.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.