[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the November 7, 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 October 21, 2011
through October 27, 2011:

Army Sgt. 1st Class David G. Robinson, 28, of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois;
assigned to the U.S. Army Support Activity, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

October 21, 2011 – October 27, 2011
Killed: 1; Wounded in action: 6

March 19, 2003 – October 27, 2011
Killed: 4,473; wounded in action: 32,219

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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 October 21, 2011 through October 27, 2011:

Marine Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Dunning, 31, of Milpitas, California;
assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group,
III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Army Sgt. Edward S. Grace, 39, of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts; assigned
to the 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment, 26th Maneuver Enhancement
Brigade, Massachusetts National Guard, Braintree, Massachusetts.

Army Sgt. John A. Lyons, 26, of Seaside Park, New Jersey; assigned to the
8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

October 21, 2011 – October 27, 2011
Killed: 3; Wounded in action: 77

October 10, 2001 – October 27, 2011
Killed: 1,808; Wounded in action: 14,611

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of October 25, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20111025ngr.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.