of them passing into kuwait in the early morning hours. over seven years before, american troops and coalition partners had fought their way across similar highways. but this time no shots were fired. it was just a convoy of brave americans making their way home. of course, the soldiers left much behind. some were teenagers when the war began. many have served multiple tours of duty, far from families who bore heroic burden of their own and during the absence of husband's embrace or a mother's kiss. most painfully, since the war began, 55 members of the force striker brigade made the ultimate sacrifice. part of over 4400 americans who have given their lives in iraq. as one staff sergeant said, "i know that to my brothers in arms who fought and died this day