[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the October 3, 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 September 16, 2011
through September 22, 2011:

Army Staff Sgt. Estevan Altamirano, 30, of Edcouch, Texas; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry
Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Sgt. Andy C. Morales, 32, of Longwood, Florida; assigned to the 143rd
Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Orlando, Florida.

September 16, 2011 – September 22, 2011
Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 3

March 19, 2003 – September 22, 2011
Killed: 4,467; wounded in action: 32,194

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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 16, 2011 through September 22, 2011:

Army Pfc. Carlos A. Aparicio, 19, of San Bernadino, California; assigned
to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Army Sgt. Rafael E. Bigai-Baez, 28, of San Juan, Puerto Rico; assigned to
the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Army Spc. Francisco J. Briseno-Alvarez Jr., 27, of Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma; assigned to 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Brigade
Combat Team, Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Army Spc. Ryan J. Cook, 29, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; assigned to the
3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team,
25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Army Spc. Robert E. Dyas, 21, of Nampa, Idaho; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

Army Sgt. Tyler N. Holtz, 22, of Dana Point, California; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army Spc. Jakob J. Roelli, 24, of Darlington, Wisconsin; assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

Army Sgt. Timothy D. Sayne, 31, of Reno, Nevada; assigned to the 5th
Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th
Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Marine Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright, 21, of Scio, Ohio; assigned to 1st
Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

September 16, 2011 – September 22, 2011
Killed: 9; Wounded in action: 198

October 10, 2001 – September 22, 2011
Killed: 1,770; Wounded in action: 14,094

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of September 20, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110920ngr.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.