[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the October 10, 2011 edition of the Army Times –

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The following U.S. service member died while supporting Operation New Dawn
in Iraq, confirmed by the Defense Department from September 23, 2011
through September 29, 2011:

Army Spc. Adrian G. Mills, 23, of Newnan, Georgia; assigned to the 272nd
Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, Fort Polk,
Louisiana.

September 23, 2011 – September 29, 2011
Killed: 1; Wounded in action: 1

March 19, 2003 – September 29, 2011
Killed: 4,469; wounded in action: 32,195

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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 September 23, 2011 through September 29, 2011:

Army Spc. James A. Butz, 21, of Porter, Indiana; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team,
82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Cpl. John R. Cagle, 19, of Tucker, Georgia; assigned to 2nd
Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Sgt. Christopher Diaz, 27, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; assigned to
Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine
Palms, California.

Army Pfc. David A. Drake, 21, of Lumberton, Texas; assigned to the 5th
Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood,
Missouri.

Army Spc. Garrett A. Fant, 21, of American Canyon, California; assigned to
the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

Army Spc. Steven E. Gutowski, 24, of Plymouth, Massachusetts; assigned to
the 5th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Leonard
Wood, Missouri.

Marine 1st Lt. Ryan K. Iannelli, 27, of Clarksboro, New Jersey; assigned
to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, Marine Air Group 29, 2nd
Marine Air Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station
New River, North Carolina.

Army 1st Lt. Ivan D. Lechowich, 27, of Valrico, Florida; assigned to the
5th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Leonard
Wood, Missouri.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Caleb A. Nelson, 26, of Omaha,
Nebraska; assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit,
Norfolk, Virginia.

Army First Sgt. Billy J. Siercks, 32, of Velda Village, Missouri; assigned
to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation
Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

Marine Staff Sgt. Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff, 28, of Davison, Michigan;
assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps
Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, California.

Marine Lance Cpl. Franklin N. Watson, 21, of Vonore, Tennessee; assigned
to Company D, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine
Forces Reserve, based out of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Army 1st. Lt. Andres Zermeno, 26, of San Antonio, Texas; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

September 23, 2011 – September 29, 2011
Killed: 13; Wounded in action: 145

October 10, 2001 – September 29, 2011
Killed: 1,783; Wounded in action: 14,239

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of September 27, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110927ngr.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.