Military members home for the holidays reflect on Iraq

TACOMA, Wash. -- Soldiers home for the holidays reflected Thursday on the official end of the Iraq war while attending a special holiday dinner catered by a Tacoma car dealership.
South Tacoma Auto hosted more than 300 military members and their families, serving them a big holiday meal for the second year in a row.
For Staff Sgt. Danny Bohman, who joined the military in 1987, it was great to spend the holidays with his wife and three kids.
Bohman fought in the first Gulf War in 1991, then returned to the region 12 years later after the Iraq War started. Back in 1991, it would have been hard to believe U.S. troops would still be in Iraq 20 years later. He thinks leaving is a step in the right direction.
"We've done all that we can accomplish for the most part," Bohman said. "Granted, I'm sure there's always more that can be done."
Just a few tables away, 20-year-old Pfc. Ruben Espinosa also enjoys a holiday meal with his wife. This is his first Christmas away from family in Florida.
Espinosa was born in 1991, the year of the first Gulf War. He just finished his training and will experience his first deployment next year. Odds are good he will never be deployed to Iraq.


For Staff Sgt. Danny Bohman, who joined the military in 1987, it was great to spend the holidays with his wife and three kids.
Bohman fought in the first Gulf War in 1991, then returned to the region 12 years later after the Iraq War started. Back in 1991, it would have been hard to believe U.S. troops would still be in Iraq 20 years later. He thinks leaving is a step in the right direction.
"We've done all that we can accomplish for the most part," Bohman said. "Granted, I'm sure there's always more that can be done."
Just a few tables away, 20-year-old Pfc. Ruben Espinosa also enjoys a holiday meal with his wife. This is his first Christmas away from family in Florida.
Espinosa was born in 1991, the year of the first Gulf War. He just finished his training and will experience his first deployment next year. Odds are good he will never be deployed to Iraq.
"I'm glad that it happened," Espinosa said, referring to the troop withdrawal. "It's about time."
It's impossible to say where the U.S. military will be deployed to 20 years from now. For now, these military families are simply glad to be spending the holidays together.