[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the May 23, 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 May 6, 2011 through May 12, 2011:

May 6, 2011 – May 12, 2011
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 6

March 19, 2003 – May 12, 2011
Killed: 4,442; wounded in action: 32,085

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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 May 6, 2011 through May 12, 2011:

Army Sgt. Amaru Aguilar, 26, of Miami, Florida; assigned to the 4th
Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry
Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

Marine Sgt. Kevin B. Balduf, 27, of Nashville, Tennessee; assigned to 8th
Communications Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina.

Army 1st Lt. Demetrius M. Frison, 26, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; assigned
to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Marine Lt. Col. Benjamin J. Palmer, 43, of Modesto, California; assigned
to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II
Marine Expeditionary Force, Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Army Spc. Brian D. Riley Jr., 24, of Longwood, Florida; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th
Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

May 6, 2011 – May 12, 2011
Killed: 5; Wounded in action: 123

October 10, 2001 – May 12, 2011
Killed: 1,561; Wounded in action: 11,314

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of May 10, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110510ngr.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.