U.S. Troops Coming Home
The president announcing plans during his State of the Union address Tuesday to bring home 34,000 U.S. soldiers from Afghanistan within a year. It's part of the next phase of his troop withdrawal plan. The U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan will be cut in half by next February.
Justin Ross was killed in battle almost two years ago in Afghanistan. Back home, his father Ron still battles grief everyday.
"Now we have a happiness expectation," Ross said. "Happiness for the families that are going to reunite. Maybe reliving what we would feel if we got to reunite."
Recent reports show over the last decade, more than 2,000 Americans have lost their lives in the Afghan War and more than 17,000 were wounded.
"I believe they should bring them home," Korean War veteran Leroy Vanasden said.
The 80-year-old remembers how anxious he was to come home.
"With modern warfare and some of these other things they're using, they don't need as many men there as they did have," Vanasden said.
Ross never welcomed Justin home, but knowing he made a difference helps him cope.
"I mean they want to come home, but they sign up to defend our freedoms. I just hope we have a good strategy," Ross said.
The draw down puts the U.S. on pace to finish the war by the end of 2014.
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