Soldier in last convoy leaving Iraq calls wife
By ANGELA K. BROWN, Associated Press
Dec 18, 2011 3:46 PM CST
Nakenzi Watson, 8, waits for her father during an early morning "welcome home" ceremony for about 300 U.S. Army 1st Cavalry 2nd Brigade soldiers returning home from deployment in Iraq at Fort Hood, TX, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Erich Schlegel)   (Associated Press)

One Texas woman got some good news from her husband during a surprise 3 a.m. phone call.

He was among the very last U.S. combat soldiers to roll out of Iraq across the border into neighboring Kuwait at daybreak Sunday. The convoy's exit marked the end of the nearly nine-year Iraq war.

Sgt. 1st Class Nate Juroff called his wife and said, "Hi honey. I'm here and I'm safe."

Jeannette Juroff says she's relieved that he's out of Iraq and won't face daily mortar attacks and other dangers. She said it's unclear when her husband, who's stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, will return home.

But hundreds of soldiers have been arriving at Fort Hood and other military installations in recent weeks because of the troop withdrawal.

See 4 more photos