The Last U.S. Troop Brigade In Iraq Departs Country After Over Eight Years Of War

NASIRIYAH, IRAQ - DECEMBER 17: U.S. Army specialist Joseph (not real name) looks on after a casing of the colors ceremony at Camp Adder, now known as Imam Ali Base, on December 17, 2011 near Nasiriyah, Iraq. Specialist Joseph worked as an Iraqi interpreter for the U.S. military in Baghdad from 2003-2008 before moving to the U.S. in 2009 and enlisting in the military in 2010. Joseph deployed to Iraq in early 2011 and has become a U.S. citizen. Around 500 troops from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division ended their presence on Camp Adder, the last remaining American base, and departed in the final American military convoy out of Iraq, arriving into Kuwait in the early morning hours of December 18, 2011. All U.S. troops were scheduled to have departed Iraq by December 31st, 2011. At least 4,485 U.S. military personnel died in service in Iraq. According to the Iraq Body Count, more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians have died from war-related violence. (Pool photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)