[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the January 23, 2012 edition of the Army Times –

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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 January 6, 2012 through January 12, 2012:

Army Pfc. Michael W. Pyron, 30, of Hopewell, Virginia; assigned to the 25th Signal Battalion, 160th Signal Brigade, 335th Signal Command Theater, East Point, Georgia.
O
Army Pfc. Neil I. Turner, 21, of Tacoma, Washington; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise, 34, of Little Rock, Arkansas; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

January 6, 2012 – January 12, 2012
Killed: 3; Wounded in action: 21

October 10, 2001 – January 12, 2012
Killed: 1,859; Wounded in action: 15,204

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of January 10, 2012)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d201210110ngr.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)
Spokane, Washington

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

-- Adlai E. Stevenson