- America's all volunteer military force began 50 years ago.
For over half a century, our country's bravest men and women have willingly put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe and secure.
Many heroically served multiple deployments in the longest war in our history, Afghanistan and in Iraq.
(light music) (loud explosion) Operation Iraqi Freedom began 20 years ago.
What was an anticipated short-term action quickly grew into an ongoing maelstrom of bloody violence.
Our service men and women were asked to carry out their missions while facing threats from unseen snipers, ceaseless guerrilla action, rocket and mortar attacks and the crippling and often fatal blast of IEDs.
(loud explosions) (light music) Injury or death came at any moment in every town and on every road.
At the peak of the war, over 170,000 US forces were stationed in Iraq.
More than 32,000 American troops were wounded in action.
Countless more came home with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress.
Over 4,000 American troops lost their lives.
Even as the war began to wind down, Iraq remained a very dangerous place.
The one constant, our troops continue to volunteer and serve, knowing they might lose their lives.
They left behind parents, spouses, siblings, and children.
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