U.S. Marines leave Iraq after 7 years

January 23, 2010

Marine SSgt. Devon Lireley says that during his second deployment to Iraq, Iraqi Army units took much more control of their own area. (Shawn Wilson/KTUU-DT)

by Channel 2 News staff
Saturday, January 23, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The U.S. Marine Corps wrapped up nearly seven years in Iraq Saturday, handing over duties to the U.S. Army.

The transfer of power begins a series of withdrawals of U.S. troops in Iraq. During a ceremony, the Marines formally handed over control of the country's largest province, Sunni-dominated Anbar, to the Army.

If all goes as planned, the last remaining Marines will be followed out by thousands of soldiers in the coming months. President Obama has ordered all but 50,000 troops out of Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010.

One Anchorage Marine says he was deployed to Iraq twice, and he noticed a change between his first and second trips there.

"The first time there, they were an attachment to us -- it felt like we did a lot more the first time," said SSgt. Devon Lireley. "And the second time over, the Iraqis took a lot more control of their own area and we were more there to watch what they did, to help them if they needed assistance."

The few thousand Marines who remain are expected to ship out in a matter of weeks.

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