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The mission of American troops in Iraq is done. Some will be redeployed to Afghanistan. Some will prepare for the next mission.

Many are coming home and will leave the service. I have something to say to you.

It is true, I have never been to war. I never really had the chance. But I cannot say that I would have chosen to go as you did. Nevertheless, I think there are some things I can legitimately offer with respect to what you have done.

There are stupid reasons to fight and we often will. Even when there are good reasons to fight, many times we do not. The fight for which you volunteered was worthwhile. There was a good reason to fight and we took the fight to the enemy.

You did not fight for oil. They did not fight because we occupied their land. We were in that fight because the world community condemned, sanctioned and demanded cooperation from a regime that was threatening the region and the security and peace of the world. We asked over and over for the regime to behave responsibly toward its people, toward its neighbors, and toward the community of nations. The regime refused.

Our country's security and the security of our friends were threatened with impunity. Even other countries with which we have deep political disagreement stood against the Iraqi regime.

Now the regime has been replaced. You worked hard to stabilize the country. But the elements remain that advocate violence to oppress the cries for peace and freedom for all people.

They killed Americans, British, Japanese and Australians at first. Now they kill their countrymen. By the scores! And the advocates of violence are not warriors committed to their cause (be it good or evil), they are cowards who recruit and send proxies to murder and destabilize the dream of freedom in their own country.

You represented something different. As an institution our military is founded on the honor of the warrior. Leave no colleague behind. Do no harm to civilians, etc. And it is committed to being the most formidable force in the world. We will kill our enemies striking terror in the hearts of any fighter lucky enough to survive.

But in the midst of the dreadful and furious onslaught, you treated fighters who were captured humanely. And the people of the land, captive to the conflict, experienced your mercy and goodness.

Our warriors understand the difference between hating and destroying an evil ideal, and caring about and encouraging the people who are slaves to the sponsors of that evil ideal.

No doubt you have seen horrible things. War is horrible and our enemy is cowardly, dishonorable and treacherous. You had to defend yourself and your brothers and sisters in arms. It is part of the honor of our military.

Your fight in their country was preparing the way for people to rise from the population and establish a regime of peace and freedom in Iraq. The time was long past for the people's liberation.

One thing I respect more than a person standing up for himself is a person who will risk his life or shed his blood to simply provide the opportunity to be free to another.

As a nation we didn't stand to gain much and it wasn't long before the cynics began to cry out for withdrawal from the fight. But they refused to look for the real benefit of engaging the battle.

The value is in a nation of people free to practice religion without fear. Free to pursue an education. Free to partner with others to strengthen the peace and freedom of all nations. Free to pursue wealth. Free to be a voice for others who are oppressed. You did that.

You were an honorable and fearsome warrior. While you were vigilant the cowardice of your enemy was manifested. Your honor and ferocity will go down in history, but your enemy will be remembered in ignominy.

Now you are home. The battle is over for you. You have made your contribution to the tradition of our military and to the future and freedom of people just like you in Iraq. Your service is done. It's no longer your fight to wage. You are a husband and a father, or a mother and a wife. You are an employee or a business owner.

How could you ever forget your war? No one expects you to.

But there is so much more to experience in life that you must not let it overcome you. Instead I pray you are strengthened in every endeavor you undertake. Not because you are a warrior but because you WERE a warrior.

It is your time to prosper in peace.

Ric Llewellyn is one of three community columnists whose work appears here every Saturday. These are the opinions of Llewellyn, not necessarily The Californian. You can email him at llewellyn.californian@gmail.com. Next week: Heather Ijames.