[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the June 18, 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 June 1, 2012 through June 7, 2012:

Army Pfc. Vincent J. Ellis, 22, of Tokyo, Japan; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Army 1st Lt. Mathew G. Fazzari, 25, of Walla Walla, Washington; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Pfc. Brandon D. Goodine, 20, of Luthersville, Georgia; assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Richard J. Kessler Jr., 47, of Gulfport, Florida; assigned to USS Enterprise as a logistics specialist.

Army Capt. Scott P. Pace, 33, of Brawley, California; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Marine Cpl. Anthony R. Servin, 22, of Moreno Valley, California; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

June 1, 2012 – June 7, 2012
Killed: 6; Wounded in action: 172

October 10, 2001 – June 7, 2012
Killed: 1,991; Wounded in action: 16,277

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of June 5, 2012)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20120605ngr.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