U.S. Army 1ST SGT. Arturo Garza (left), presents SPC. Justin Reed (right) the Soldier of the Quarter Award, at Logistic Support Area, Anaconda, Balad Air Base, Iraq, on Dec. 24, 2006, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both Soldiers are assigned to Charlie Company, 449th Aviation Support Battalion, Texas Army National Guard. (A3606) (U.S. Army PHOTO by SPC. Kaleena Calderas) (Released)

Iraq War aka Operation IRAQI FREEDOM was the 2003 invasion of Iraq, led by U.S. Army General Tommy Franks, under the code-name "Operation Iraqi Freedom". 248,000 soldiers from the United States, 45,000 British soldiers, 2,000 Australian soldiers and 194 Polish soldiers from Special Forces unit GROM sent to Kuwait for the invasion. The invasion force was also supported by Iraqi Kurdish militia troops, estimated to number upwards of 70,000.