[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the September 26, 2011 edition of the Army Times –

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No U.S. service member died while supporting Operation New Dawn in Iraq,
confirmed by the Defense Department from September 9, 2011 through
September 15, 2011:

September 9, 2011 – September 15, 2011
Killed: 0; Wounded in action: 2

March 19, 2003 – September 15, 2011
Killed: 4,465; wounded in action: 32,191

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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 9, 2011 through September 15, 2011:

Army Spc. Chazray C. Clark, 24, of Ecorse, Michigan; assigned to the 4th
Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

Marine Cpl. Michael J. Dutcher, 22, of Asheville, North Carolina; assigned
to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

Army Sgt. Garrick L. Eppinger Jr., 25, of Appleton, Wisconsin; assigned to
the 395th Ordnance Company, 687th Combat Sustainment Support Brigade,
646th Regional Support Group, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command,
Wausau, Wisconsin.

Army Staff Sgt. Michael W. Hosey, 27, of Birmingham, Alabama; assigned to
the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
Washington.

Army Sgt. Mycal L. Prince, 28, of Minco, Oklahoma; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma
National Guard, Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Army Sgt. Rodolfo Rodriguez Jr., 26, of Pharr, Texas; assigned to the 3rd
Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th
Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Army Sgt. Chester G. Stoda, 32, of Black River Falls, Wisconsin; assigned
to the 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

September 9, 2011 – September 15, 2011
Killed: 7; Wounded in action: 196

October 10, 2001 – September 15, 2011
Killed: 1,761; Wounded in action: 13,896

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of September 13, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110913ngr.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.