major allison daye was skyping with her children in texas. >> i love you!> reporter: she used to read them stories by phone from iraq. she'll see them soon. >> what do i want for christmas? i want santa to bring me home. does that work? >> i asked for that, too. >> reporter: the major now only wants one thing. >> waking up in the morning and having their cute little faces there. >> reporter: the war has been controversial and costly, but the troops by and large are leaving with their heads high. >> iraq is doing their own thing. they are their own country now, up and running. it's wonderful. >> reporter: did america prevail? iraq's future remains uncertain. but today, december 15, 2011, will be written the day america's war in iraq ended in time for the holidays. what was conspicuously absent today, brian, there were no parades among iraqis, no victory celebrations, no thank yous. >> richard, you spent a good chunk of your adult life there. how does it feel today? >> reporter: i'm worried about what happens in this country, brian. i'm worried that the viole