Army Pfc. Derek Southard, center, is hugged by his mother Shawn Southard, left, and his sister Jaylee Hepner, right, during a welcome home ceremony for soldiers from the Army's 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, on Oct. 10, at Fort Stewart, Ga. Overall about 2,200 soldiers from Fort Stewart's 3rd Infantry Division have deployed to Afghanistan this year.

Patricia Parra, left, spots her son Pfc. Fabian Castrillon in formation along with his fiancee Marivel Penalea, right, during a welcome home ceremony for soldiers from the Army's 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, on Oct. 10, at Fort Stewart, Ga.

Army Spc. Cory Allen kisses his daughter Lacey Allen during a welcome home ceremony for soldiers from the Army's 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, on Oct. 10, at Fort Stewart, Ga.

A U.S. Army soldier reacts inside an armored vehicle after his comrade was wounded at patrol by an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan on June 12.

U.S. Army soldiers secure an area as a medic treats a comrade wounded by an improvised explosive device at a patrol in southern Afghanistan on June 12.

U.S. Army soldiers react after their comrade was wounded at patrol by an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan on June 12.

U.S. Army soldiers carry their comrade wounded at patrol by an improvised explosive device towards a Blackhawk Medevac helicopter in southern Afghanistan on June 12.

U.S. Army soldiers from the 2-82 Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, carry their bags to customs as they prepare to fly home to Fort Hood, Texas after being one of the last American combat units to exit from Iraq on December 15, 2011 at Camp Virginia, near Kuwait City, Kuwait. Today the U.S. military formally ended its mission in Iraq after eight years of war and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

U.S. Army soldiers from the 2-82 Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, salute during the playing of retreat during the daily flag lowering ceremony as they prepare to fly home to Fort Hood, Texas after being one of the last American combat units to exit from Iraq on Dec.15 at Camp Virginia, near Kuwait City, Kuwait. Today the U.S. military formally ended its mission in Iraq after eight years of war and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

U.S. Army soldiers from the 2-82 Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, carry their bags to waiting trucks as they prepare to board buses later in the evening to fly home to Fort Hood, Texas after being one of the last American combat units to exit from Iraq on December 15, 2011 at Camp Virginia, near Kuwait City, Kuwait. Today the U.S. military formally ended its mission in Iraq after eight years of war and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

A U.S. Army soldier from the 2-82 Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, packs his helmet into his travel bag for the last time before the flight home from Kuwait after their unit exited from Iraq on Dec. 15 at Camp Virginia, near Kuwait City, Kuwait.

U.S. Army soldiers from the 2-82 Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, place their bags on a truck as they prepare to board buses later in the evening to fly home to Fort Hood, Texas after being one of the last American combat units to exit from Iraq on Dec. 15 at Camp Virginia, near Kuwait City, Kuwait. Today the U.S. military formally ended its mission in Iraq after eight years of war and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

At terminal A at the Sacramento Airport, left to right, wife of Darryl Oleson and daughters Kyli center, and Cieva, get excited as their husband and father Darryl Oleson makes his way down the escalator escorted by an honor guard. Oleson, a Citrus Heights police officer who's in the military reserve is home early from a tour in Iraq. Police officers and his family meet him at the airport for this Christmas Eve surprise on Dec. 24.

At the bottom the the escalator, Citrus Heights police officers salute in the background, as Darryl Oleson hugs his daughters Cieva, and Kyli, as his wife Lea, wipes tears away. Darryl Oleson, a Citrus Heights police officer who's in the military reserve is home early from a tour in Iraq at the Sacramento Airport Terminal A. Police officers and his family meet him at the airport on Dec. 24.

U.S. Army Pvt. Tyler Cannon of Maine, 19, left, and his comrades from First Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, rest after a patrol in Panjwai district, Afghanistan's Kandahar province on Tuesday.

US Army Spc. Brandon Wellington of North Carolina from First Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division cooks dinner at their base in Panjwai district, Afghanistan's Kandahar province on Tuesday.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jonathan Rezendes of Mass., from First Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, plays with a ball.