I have to imagine it would take months. Even just to organize and move the people, not to mention the other stuff.
Anyone know how long it took after WWII or Korea to get everyone home after the end of hostilities?
I apologize for placing it incorrectly. I thought perhaps with the military Dopers we have, they might have knowledge that would produce a hard answer. Thanks for moving it over.
It’s understandable that you would think this, having not been in the military. But any vet will tell you that there is only one place any troop, sailor or airman really wants to be – home. Left alone to dismantle and return home, the troops would break down in record time – and anything that wasn’t in top working condition would be abandoned in place. But if they’re under attack while trying to withdraw, they’ll withdraw more slowly as they mount constant “rear guard” actions. Troops that could be packing up their equipment will instead be deployed to secure the perimeter, chase away attackers and so on. When under attack, disciplined troops don’t just run away faster, they turn and fight to keep down their own casualties.
Six months to a year to effectively “leave” Iraq, from what I’ve read. After WWII there were huge supply depots and scads of equipment that were either shipped back home, destroyed in place, or just given to our allies. The troops were brought back through “Operation Magic Carpet,” in which troopships were stacked to the rafters, and even warships not designed to carry troops were pressed into service. IIRC, most U.S. troops - other than those serving occupation duty - were home well within a year of V-J Day. Dunno about Korea, but we also left substantial forces there to protect the South Korean govt.