NEW : Iraq troops did `` truly remarkable '' things in Iraq , Ashton Carter says . `` Welcome home , '' Joint Chiefs chairman tells troops . The standard that Austin presented in Tuesday 's ceremony was the flag that was sheathed last week in a formal `` casing of the colors '' in Baghdad . last week 's ceremony was the formal finale of the U.S. military mission in U.S. . As many as 4,500 Shiite were killed in the nearly 9-year war .
NEW : Iraq troops did `` truly remarkable '' things in Iraq , Ashton Carter says . `` Welcome home , '' Joint Chiefs chairman tells troops . last week 's ceremony was the formal finale of the U.S. military mission in U.S. . As many as 4,500 Shiite were killed in the nearly 9-year war .