[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the March 7, 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 February 18, 2011 through
February 24, 2011:

February 18, 2011 – February 24, 2011
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 7

March 19, 2003 – February 24, 2011
Killed: 4,429; wounded in action: 32,046

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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 February 18, 2011 through February 24, 2011:

Army Pfc. David R. Fahey Jr., 23, of Norwalk, Connecticut; assigned to the
504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Joint Base
Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army Staff Sgt. Jerome Firtamag, 29, of Pohnpei, Federated States of
Micronesia; assigned to the 96th Combat Support Battalion, 101st Combat
Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell,
Kentucky.

Army Sgt. Kristopher J. Gould, 25, of Saginaw, Michigan; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Army 1st Lt. Daren M. Hidalgo, 24, of Waukesha, Wisconsin; assigned to 3rd
Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Army Sgt. Robert C. Sisson Jr., 29, of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania; assigned
to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Spc. Brian Tabada, 21, of Las Vegas, Nevada; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Marine Cpl. Johnathan W. Taylor, 23, of Homosassa, Florida; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Spc. Andrew C. Wilfahrt, 31, of Rosemount, Minnesota; assigned to the
504th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater
Sustainment Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

February 18, 2011 – February 24, 2011
Killed: 8; Wounded in action: 56

October 10, 2001 – February 24, 2011
Killed: 1,473; Wounded in action: 10,398

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of February 22, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110222ngr.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.