Sgt. Luke Hitchcock, 26, of Olean, N.Y., covers the .50-caliber machine gun atop his vehicle after his unit arrives in Kuwait.
Ernesto Londono-The Washington Post
Col. John Norris, the brigade's commander, right, and 1st Lt. Randall Moran fly over the route the soldiers would take to leave Iraq as part of an effort to mitigate the risks.
Ernesto Londono-The Washington Post
U.S. bases like this one in southern Iraq are being stripped down and downsized. At the end of August, about 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq, mainly as a training force.
Ernesto Londono-The Washington Post
Soldiers from the 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division drive from Baghdad to Kuwait.
Ernesto Londono-The Washington Post
Soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Dvision clear their weapons before boarding a flight out of Kuwait. Most will return to Fort Lewis, Wash., where the 2nd Infantry is based. Others will leave the military, while some will move to other units.
Ernesto Londono-The Washington Post
Spec. Adam Burd, 22, of Fort Lewis, Wash., scans for threats as his unit drives from Baghdad to Kuwait.
Ernesto Londono-The Washington Post
Soldiers from the 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division pose for a group photo after completing the drive from Iraq to Kuwait. Leaving Iraq one last time was particularly emotional for veterans who have served multiple tours, several soldiers said.
Ernesto Londono-The Washington Post
Soldiers arrive in Kuwait after the two-day journey from Baghdad through the southern Iraqi desert.
Ernesto Londono-The Washington Post
Cargo belonging to the soldiers is loaded onto a plane as the unit prepares to leave Iraq.
Ernesto Londono-The Washington Post
Sgt. 1st Class Salvador Murillo, 31, of Los Angeles, and 1st Sgt. Marcos Hernandez, 43, of San Bernardino, Calif., take attendance before soldiers from the 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division leave their base in Baghdad for the last time.
Ernesto Londono-The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor Allison Slomowitz, Megan Rossman
