

A US Army soldier from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Ga., removes bullets from his comrades' magazines as the unit turns in ammunition in preparation to head home from Camp Liberty in Baghdad, Iraq, on Nov. 27, 2010. Maya Alleruzzo/AP/File
Members of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Ga., sit in the belly of a C-17 aircraft at Sather Air Base in Baghdad as they begin their journey home after a year in Iraq on Nov. 30, 2010. Maya Alleruzzo/AP
In this Dec. 3, 2010 photo, US Army Sgt. Mary Katzenberger smiles as she wears a patch on her backpack reading 'Iraqi Freedom Veteran – U.S. Army' on Dec. 3, 2010, at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga., after an 18-hour journey home from a yearlong deployment in Iraq. Maya Alleruzzo/AP
US Army soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, gather for a briefing after arriving at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga., on Dec. 4, 2010. Maya Alleruzzo/AP
US Army Spc. Nick James, from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, carries his gear as his wife, Sarah, smiles after welcoming him home from Iraq on Dec. 4, 2010. Maya Alleruzzo/AP
US Army Spc. Michael Madden is greeted by his sister Marissa and brother Chuck as he arrives home in Pennsauken, N.J., on Dec. 15, 2010, after a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq. John Ziomek/Courier-Post/AP
Friends and family cheer the return of Vermont National Guard soldiers during a homecoming ceremony in South Burlington, Vt., on Dec. 2, 2010. Eighty more Vermont National Guard soldiers are back home after a yearlong deployment, which included about nine months in Afghanistan. Toby Talbot/AP
Mille Clark reacts as she sees her son, Sgt. Kevin Clark, in South Burlington, Vt., on Dec. 16, 2010. Clark returned with about 300 Vermont National Guard soldiers after a yearlong mission, spending nine months in Afghanistan. Toby Talbot/AP
1st Lt. Chris Stafford is greeted by his wife, Jennifer, and daughter Ella in South Burlington, Vt., on Dec. 16, 2010. Toby Talbot/AP
Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Goodell is all smiles as he holds his granddaughter, Neveah Perez, in South Burlington, Vt., on Dec. 16. Toby Talbot/AP
Vermont National Guard Spc. Travis Cook sits with his wife, Jennifer, who holds their son Travis II during a homecoming ceremony in South Burlington, Vt., on Dec. 2, 2010. Toby Talbot/AP