Some soldiers feel a bit slighted because Afghanistan doesn't get as much media attention as Iraq, but others understand.
After spending 14 months overseas, Darrell Scace is thrilled to be back home, but is a little disappointed that his service in Afghanistan was somewhat overlooked by the bigger battle in the Middle East.
"Oh yes. It's the forgotten war. You never hear it on the news unless something bad happens over there. I had seen a newsclip a couple months ago how they said 'on this day we've been in Iraq longer than we fought in WWII' and we were in Afghanistan prior to going into Iraq."
Still, Scace realizes the attention is because more American troops are fighting in Iraq and there have been more deaths there.
Captain Jamie Makowski understands why the media focuses on Iraq, but says soldiers in Afghanistan haven't been neglected, at least not by the American public. "The focus is definitely on Iraq because there are so many more troops that are there. But no, we don't feel like we've been forgotten at all. We still receive so many care packages from not only families and friends, but from organizations around the city, around the community and the state as well. So, no, we don't feel like we've been forgotten."
Regardless of the attention, or lack thereof, Scace is proud of the many accomplishments he was a part of while in Afghanistan. "Oh, they helped build schools; they helped get electricity for people; just made a better way of life for the Afghanis over there. Their poverty rate is probably 60 – 75-percent. They're building schools. They're standing up on their own and they're running their own country. Instead of the Taliban coming in and running it they're actually taking control of it themselves."