Welcome home Marines, well done

I, and most everyone else, call this victory - and did so a year ago. The rest is up to the Iraqis. It would not have happened without you.

The last of Camp Lejeune’s Marines in Iraq are on their way home, base officials said.

The command element of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) are expected to return to Camp Lejeune Monday, according to a press release from II MEF.

The return of II MEF is the first major wave of American forces to leave Iraq as the U.S. begins to withdraw, a process that is scheduled to be complete by the end of next year, according to the release.

Their return also ends the Marine Corps’ seven-year participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After Monday, the only Marine forces in Iraq will be a small logistics element that will complete the turnover to Iraqi security forces and a brigade from the U.S. Army.