An historic moment in Baghdad today with the U.S. officially declaring the 9-year-long war in Iraq is over.
The war cost the us $800 billion, but this war came with a much greater cost. The 4,500 americans killed during the war, and the 30,000 troops wounded--some of them severely.
The loss of life in iraq also stunning with more than 100,000 dead.
It has been five years since Ron McCloud found out that his son Trane died in Iraq, and just like on that day in 2006 he is at work in his antique shop. Now there are more pictures of lieutenant colonel Trane McCloud on the shops walls.
"I keep these pictures here and they get knocked off every once in awhile and I think every time I knock’em off it gives me a chance to think about him,” said McCloud. “There’s things I pick up and see and do. I know he's the last person that touched that … it gets pretty emotional sometimes."
Just up the street Trane McCloud holds a place of honor on the Carter County veterans wall, and just across Elk Ave. His name is etched forever on the Veteran’s War Memorial.
"I had met Trane and I know that Mr. McCloud … Ronnie ... was very proud of his son ... and what I knew of Trane ...he represented America's best,” Carter said.
Now with the war ending what is McCloud’s reaction as the troops head home.
"Same as everyone else ... I hope ... I think that ... I’m glad it’s over and we won't be seeing or suffering losses any more over there,” said McCloud.
While the war is over in iraq the conflict in afghanistan is still ongoing, and Lieutenant Colonel McCloud 's brother is currently enroute to join the forces fighting there.
There are around 4,000 U.S. Troops left in Iraq with hundreds more leaving later today. Compare that to the all-time high number of 170,000. The army is down to two operational bases. At the height of the war--that number was 505.
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