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5 Year Anniversary of the Iraq War Save Email Print
Posted: 3:47 PM Mar 19, 2008
Last Updated: 7:28 PM Mar 19, 2008
Reporter: Sarah Rasmussen
Email Address: sarah.rasmussen@weau.com

A | A | A

Everyones history with the Iraq War is different.

Some served in the military themselves, while other lost loved ones in the fighting.

Either way, they all say they believe in supporting the troops, although not all of them think we should still be in Iraq.

March 19th, 2003 the first bombs exploded in Iraq signaling the start of war.

"I cried for two weeks after he joined,” said Bethany Jacobson whose son is a retired U.S. Marine.

Many Americans, like Bethany Jacobson’s son Elijah, decided to join the military.

Kaye Olson says her son, Andy Stevens, wanted to serve since he was a little boy.

"Andy was marching kids around the yard when he was little,” she says.

Although both women's sons served as Marines in the war, their stories have different endings.

Jacobson's son is a retired U.S. Marine who served in Iraq.

“I'm very grateful that my son is back, but my son has been changed forever by his war experience,” she says.

Kaye Olson’s son did not make it home.

"I'm mad because my son's dead because of this because my son was killed, but yet I think we need to be over there,” she says.

And on this fifth anniversary, they both have different feelings about U.S. occupation in Iraq.

"I don't want their deaths for nothing and I think if we pull out that's it,” says Olson.

"It's just time to bring everybody home,” says Jacobson.

"I joined the military to serve my country and I didn't see this war as serving my country, so I felt very happy when I got out,” says Todd Dennis.

He doesn't think the U.S. should still be involved either.

Dennis served in the U.S. Navy for six years but never had to go to Iraq. He's now a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

"This war has ruined our country greatly,” he says.

And whether or not people support the war, they all say they support the troops.

"Andy was doing what Andy wanted to do,” she says.

"They do a job no body else wants to do without asking for things and they should be proud of their services,” says Jacobson.

Jacobson and Dennis say they're concerned veterans aren't getting the health care they deserve when returning home from fighting in Iraq.

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