[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the December 12, 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 November 25, 2011 through
December 1, 2011:

November 25, 2011 – December 1, 2011
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 2

March 19, 2003 – December 1, 2011
Killed: 4,473; wounded in action: 32,226

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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 November 25, 2011 through December 1, 2011:

Marine Staff Sgt. Vincent J. Bell, 28, of Detroit, Michigan; assigned to
2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Dennis R. Murray, 38, of Red Broiling Springs,
Tennessee; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

November 25, 2011 – December 1, 2011
Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 132

October 10, 2001 – December 1, 2011
Killed: 1,832; Wounded in action: 14,969

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of November 29, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20111129ngr.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.