POLL: Should the Troops Leave Iraq?

They served their country proudly during World War II.

And three Grafton residents who have earned membership in the Greatest Generation are happy to see a far more recent war, the war in Iraq, come to a close.

Kenneth Larrivee said the war should have ended already. The war, he said, was “strictly political. We’ve given up good American lives for politics.’’

He said that the reasons for being in Iraq were not nearly as clear as in the war he fought in.

In World War II, “we were attacked by an enemy,’’ he said, in reference to the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.

Chuck Wenc said that the end of this war, and any war, is good news.

“But you’ve got to fight for your freedom,’’ he said. “You’ve got to back it up. People don’t realize that people die for their liberty.’’

James Kneeland said his heart goes out to the soldiers in Iraq.

In a conflict where civilians often planted bombs and caused other horrors of war, the soldiers were facing challenges not seen in more traditions battles, he said.

“There was no way of knowing who they’re fighting’’ at times, he said. “You don’t know who the enemy is.’’