[caption id=“attachment_500” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Crew members of a US Army BlackHawk helicopter hold an American flag as they pose with five returning Wounded Warriors at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, December 29, 2009. (left to right): Captain Sam Brown, Sergeant First Class Josh Olson, Sergeant First Class Mike Schlitz, Sergeant Bill Congleton (Retired), and First Lieutenant Jim Kirchner (Retired). (USO Photo by Mike Theiler)”][/caption]

[caption id=“attachment_502” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Sergeant Bill Congleton (Retired) spreads his arms wide as he prepares to greet comrades of the Oregon National Guard at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, December 29, 2009. Congleton, who lost a leg in a IED blast in 2004, returned to Iraq with a group of Wounded Warriors with "Operation Proper Exit”. (USO Photo by Mike Theiler)“][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_503” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Sergeant Bill Congleton (Retired) hugs a comrade of the Oregon National Guard at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, December 29, 2009. (USO Photo by Mike Theiler)”][/caption]

[caption id=“attachment_504” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Sergeant First Class Mike Schlitz (left), who lost both arms and was badly burned in a IED blast in 2007, and returned to Iraq with a group of Wounded Warriors with "Operation Proper Exit”, talks to soldiers at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, December 29, 2009. (USO Photo by Mike Theiler)“][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_505” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Sergeant First Class Josh Olson (left), Captain Sam Brown, and his wife, Captain Amy Brown are all smiles after arriving with a group of returning Wounded Warriors on "Operation Proper Exit”, at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, December 29, 2009. (USO Photo by Mike Theiler)“][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_506” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“First Lieutenant Jim Kirchner (Retired) (second from right), who suffered severe injuries in a mortar attack in Iraq in 2005, and returned with a group of Wounded Warriors with "Operation Proper Exit”, chats with soldiers at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, December 29, 2009. (USO Photo by Mike Theiler)“][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_501” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Sergeant Bill Congleton (Retired) (second from right) poses with comrades of the Oregon National Guard at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, December 29, 2009. Congleton, who lost a leg in a IED blast in 2004, returned to Iraq with a group of Wounded Warriors with "Operation Proper Exit”. (USO Photo by Mike Theiler)“][/caption]