Mr. Obama in his address offered an abbreviated history of the costly Iraq war, but his focus was on the sacrifices of troops: Nearly 1.5 million men and women have served, more than 30, 000 have been wounded and nearly 4, 500 have died.

WSJ: Obama Hails Troops As He Marks the End of Iraq War

But there is one thing we know already: the Americans that went to war in Iraq served their country as well as any generation of fighting men and women in our remarkable history.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House