[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the August 1, 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 July 15, 2011 through July 21,
2011:

July 15, 2011 – July 21, 2011
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 5

March 19, 2003 – July 21, 2011
Killed: 4,463; wounded in action: 32,155

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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 15, 2011 through July 21, 2011:

Army Cpl. Raphael R. Arruda, 21, of Ogden, Utah; assigned to the 416th
Theater Engineer Command, Ogden, Utah.

Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Camero, 19, of Kailua Kona, Hawaii;
assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I
Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, California.

Army Staff Sgt. James M. Christen, 29, of Loomis, California; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th
Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Army Sgt. Omar A. Jones, 28, of Crook, Colorado; assigned to the 126th
Chemical Battalion, 92nd Troop Command, Nebraska Army National Guard,
Wahoo, Nebraska.

Army Sgt. Edward W. Koehler, 47, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania; assigned to the
131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, Williamstown,
Pennsylvania.

Army Sgt. Jacob Molina, 27, of Houston, Texas; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry
Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Army Staff Sgt. Brian K. Mowery, 49, of Halifax, Pennsylvania; assigned to
the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, Williamstown,
Pennsylvania.

Army Master Sgt. Benjamin A. Stevenson, 36, of Canyon Lake, Texas;
assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.

Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Vangiesen, 30, of Erie, Pennsylvania; assigned
to the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group,
Williamstown, Pennsylvania.

July 15, 2011 – July 21, 2011
Killed: 9; Wounded in action: 172

October 10, 2001 – July 21, 2011
Killed: 1,660; Wounded in action: 12,785

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

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110719ngr.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.