[Vision2020] The Human toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the July 25, 2011 edition of the Army Times –

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting Operation New
Dawn in Iraq, confirmed by the Defense Department from July 8, 2011
through July 14, 2011:

Army Sgt. Mark A. Cofield, 25, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; assigned to
Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg,
N.C.

Army Spc. Daniel L. Elliott, 21, of Youngsville, North Carolina; assigned
to the 290th Military Police Brigade, 200th Military Police Command, Cary,
North Carolina.

July 8, 2011 – July 14, 2011
Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 7

March 19, 2003 – July 14, 2011
Killed: 4,463; wounded in action: 32,150

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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 July 8, 2011 through July 14, 2011:

Army Master Sgt. Kenneth B. Elwell, 33, of Holland, Pennsylvania; assigned
to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat
Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Army Staff Sgt. Wyatt A. Goldsmith, 28, of Colville, Washington; assigned
to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
Washington.

Marine Lance Cpl. Robert S. Greniger, 21, of Greenfield, Minnesota;
assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Spc. Frank R. Gross, 25, of Oldsmar, Florida; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 38th Cavalry Regiment, 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade,
Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Sgt. Lex L. Lewis, 40, of Rapid City, South Dakota; assigned to 1st
Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Pfc. Tyler M. Springman, 19, of Hartland, Maine; assigned to the 3rd
Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th
Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Army Sgt. Jeremy R. Summers, 27, of Mount Olivet, Kentucky; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jabari N. Thompson, 22, of Brooklyn, New York; assigned
to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Navy Seaman Aaron D. Ullom, 20, of Midland, Michigan; assigned as a
hospitalman to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team
8, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune,
N.C.

July 8, 2011 – July 14, 2011
Killed: 9; Wounded in action: 143

October 10, 2001 – July 14, 2011
Killed: 1,651; Wounded in action: 12,613

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

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110712ngr.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.