[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the July 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 July 6, 2012 through July 12, 2012:

Army Pfc. Trevor B. Adkins, 21, of Spring Lake, North Carolina; assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Army Spc. Erica P. Alecksen, 21, of Eatonton, Georgia; assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Army Staff Sgt. Carl E. Hammar, 24, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona; assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. 

Army Pfc. Alejandro J. Pardo, 21, of Porterville, California; assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Army Sgt. Michael E. Ristau, 25, of Rockford, Illinois; assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army Staff Sgt. Ricardo Seija, 31, of Tampa, Florida; assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Army Pfc. Cameron J. Stambaugh, 20, of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania; assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Army Spc. Clarence Williams III, 23, of Brooksville, Florida; assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Army Spc. Sterling W. Wyatt, 21, of Columbia, Missouri; assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

July 6, 2012 – July 12, 2012
Killed: 9; Wounded in action: 94

October 10, 2001 – July 12, 2012
Killed: 2,027; Wounded in action: 16,781

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

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20120710ngr.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