Watch CBS News

Wisconsin Family Has Mixed Reaction To Troop Withdrawal

GREENFIELD, Wis. (CBS) -- Tracy Matuszak of Greenfield, Wis., has two sons in the Marines.

Jack Nickeas, 20, remains in Afghanistan, while Matuszak's son Michael returned last September.

Matuszak says she's happy that he may be coming home soon, but she doesn't necessarily support the mission.

"Honestly, I think we were over there a lot longer than we should've been," she told WBBM Newsradio 780's Lisa Fielding. "It's a war that's never going to stop.I think we were over there way too long."

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Lisa Fielding reports

Podcast

Michael Nickeas, 23, was part of the original troop surge and spent 7 months in Iraq and 7 months in Afghanistan. He says he is glad troops will be coming home, but says winning the war there may be a hopeless case.

"Things haven't changed since I was there," he said. "People are dying and the Taliban is too strong of a gang to defeat no matter what we do, nothing is going to eliminate them. I was there, I have been in gun battles we couldn't win."

"I'm happy Jack will be coming home. I'll be happy when this war is over," said Matuszak.

Matuszak says Jack is scheduled to finish his tour in January of 2013 and he hopes to attend Marquette University.

She says both boys choose a career in the military because of what happened on Sept. 11, 2001.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.