group advising gingrich, just mainly cia director jim woolsly, national security adviser bud mcí farlandt there is this view that advising newt gingrich on anything is a tough sell because he already thinks he knows. in the case of romney, he has put together what appears to be a bedrock of supporters in the establishment. >> it's hard to believe that all those people are already advising romney. they describe them as a working group he's come up with. it's really a part of the romney push to get as many people as they can to sign up on and endorse him so that he tries to crush his opponent and win the nomination. >> which doesn't seem to be working very well since gingrich is ahead in the polls. >> the argument that gingrich can have against romney's panel is that in the past he doesn't promise anything new whereas gingrich says he promises. >> i don't think gingrich wins with mcí farland, skinner the newest advisory who was a bush advisory on iraq and afghanistan. >> i don't think any republican wins on defense issues. the people care about jobs, they care about the economy. if they ca

lieutenant jennifer farland led one of the make tonights. >> i'm grateful we made it here with no major complications, no tragedies. >> reporter: for the final 500, it was hard to contain their joy. this was a moment in history to celebrate. the nine-year military operation was over. >> we left on our own accord. >> reporter: fearing an attack, the final mission was kept secret, using the cover of darkness to slip out. the heavily armored vehicles drove 160 miles in 5 hours across the iraqi desert. the iraq war did pose a human and financial toll. nearly 4500 americans and more than 100,000 iraqis died. it cost the u.s. $800 billion. as the soldiers emptied bullets from their weapons, they started focusing on their next mission. reuniting with their families. >> going to be home in time for my son's fourth birthday, my daughter's second birthday. so it's going to be amazing. >> reporter: for triston mcdonna and most of the others, that trip back to the states begins this week. drew levenson, cbs news. >>> well, christmas came early for children in one east bay city today. the charles r

platoon leader jennifer farland drove in the second to last troop transport vehicle to leave the country>> a little overwhelming, but we're watching history in the making. pretty magical when we cross the border. >> reporter: a little more than five hours later, they had reached the border 160 miles away. dawn was breaking. no ordinary saturday night was becoming an historic sunday morning. let's set the scene for you right now. we are paused just a couple of hundred yards from the border into kuwait to let some vehicles in front of us go in first. these are the last vehicles of the u.s. convoy out of iraq. this is a medivac unit. these are the last soldiers who will actually cross over the border into kuwait. you see a beautiful sunrise that's coming up over the desert. and what's behind us? absolutely nothing. at 7:37 local time, the last u.s. armored vehicle crossed over. the mission went smoothly. no casualties, meaning the final number of american troops killed in iraq will be 4,487, more than 30,000 were wounded and more than 100,000 iraqis are thought to be dead from war-related v

. >> reporter: most like lieutenant jennifer farland couldn't wait to get started. >> a little overwhelming, but we're watching history in the making. going to be pretty magical when we cross the border. >> reporter: the final installation left 2:30 sunday morning for the 5,110 mile drive. dawn has just broken over southern iraq and we are approaching the border into kuwait. this is the next to the last vehicle of the u.s. convoy out of iraq. just a medevac unit is behind us. the soldiers are moments away from successfully accomplishing their last mission of the iraq war, getting out safely. for those waiting on the other side of the gate, it was time to celebrate. the first of the welcome parties waiting for the troops on their long way home. >> get there christmas eve, early in the morning. and see my wife and my son. >> reporter: there were no casualties on the last convoy which leaves the final number of u.s. troops killed in the iraq war at 4,484. a big part of the reason for their safe arrival here, the tremendous amount of air support offered by the military. at least 45 helicopters,