[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the January 10, 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 December 24, 2010 through
December 30, 2010:

December 24, 2010 – December 30, 2010
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 5

March 19, 2003 – December 30, 2010
Killed: 4,420; wounded in action: 32,016

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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 December 24, 2010 through December 30, 2010:

Army Sgt. Michael J. Beckerman, 25, of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri; assigned
to 2nd Brigade Support Troop Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Marine Lance Cpl. Maung P. Htaik, 20, of Hagerstown, Maryland; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Cpl. Tevan L. Nguyen, 21, of Hutto, Texas; assigned to the 3rd
Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

Marine Cpl. Jacob A. Tate, 21, of Columbus, Ohio; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

December 24, 2010 – December 30, 2010
Killed: 4; Wounded in action: 57

October 10, 2001 – December 30, 2010
Killed: 1,433; Wounded in action: 9,885

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of December 28, 2010)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20101228ngr.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.