[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the June 6, 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 May 20, 2011
through May 26, 2011:

Army Sgt. 1st Class Clifford E. Beattie, 37, of Medical Lake, Washington;
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

Army Pfc. Ramon Mora Jr., 19, of Ontario, California; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 63rd Armor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division,
Fort Riley, Kansas.

May 20, 2011 – May 26, 2011
Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 12

March 19, 2003 – May 26, 2011
Killed: 4,444; wounded in action: 32,102

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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 20, 2011 through May 26, 2011:

Army Pvt. Thomas C. Allers, 23, of Plainwell, Michigan; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th
Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Army Pfc. William S. Blevins, 21, of Sardinia, Ohio; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry
Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Army Sgt. Thomas A. Bohall, 25, of Bel Aire, Kansas; assigned to the 4th
Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Spc. Adam S. Hamilton, 22, of Kent, Ohio; assigned to the 4th
Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry
Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Hamski, 28, of Ottumwa, Iowa; assigned to
the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

Army Pfc. John C. Johnson, 28, of Phoenix, Arizona; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division, Fort Drum, New York.

Army Pvt. Andrew M. Krippner, 20, Garland, Texas; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry
Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Army Staff Sgt. Kristofferson B. Lorenzo, 33, of Chula Vista, California;
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Army Staff Sgt. Edward D. Mills Jr., 29, of New Castle, Pennsylvania;
assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat
Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell,
Kentucky.

Army Staff Sgt. Ergin V. Osman, 35, of Jacksonville, North Carolina;
assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat
Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell,
Kentucky.

Army Spc. Adam J. Patton, 21, of Port Orchard, Washington; assigned to the
4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade,
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Sgt. Louie A. Ramos-Velazquez, 39, of Camuy, Puerto Rico; assigned to
the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade,
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army 1st Lt. John M. Runkle, 27, of West Salem, Ohio; assigned to the 4th
Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kristoffer M. Solesbee, 32, of Citrus Heights,
California; assigned to the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hill Air Force
Base, Utah.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Christopher R. Thibodeau, 28, of Chesterland,
Ohio; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort
Hood, Texas.

May 20, 2011 – May 26, 2011
Killed: 15; Wounded in action: 130

October 10, 2001 – May 26, 2011
Killed: 1,582; Wounded in action: 11,541

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of May 24, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110524ngr.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.