ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The war with Afghanistan is officially over. The withdrawal of U.S. troops leaves a country in upheaval, now controlled by terrorist Taliban forces.  

For many who either served in Afghanistan or who have tied to those who did, it’s a day met with mixed reaction.

What You Need To Know

  • For many who either served in Afghanistan or who have tied to those who did, it’s a day met with mixed reactions

  • Joie Chenelly was a part of the initial ground force to enter Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks

  • Chenelly, the national executive director of AMVETS, says he has been working to try and help civilian U.S. allies left behind to leave Afghanistan safely

  • On Rochester’s radio airwaves, Bob Lonsberry has updated listeners on his daughter Aubrey’s service, as she has been part of the effort in Afghanistan in recent years

“We've all felt some sacrifices,” said Joie Chenelly, who served there as a U.S. Marine. “Most all of us know people who are not with us anymore.”

It was the price of the war in Afghanistan. Chenelly was a part of the initial ground force to enter Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“When I was in Afghanistan, I certainly felt full of purpose,” he said.  “And we knew we were there for the right reasons."

Twenty years later — as America completes the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan — there is a different feeling.

“I've been in favor of leaving Afghanistan, at least on the ground, for quite some time now,” said Chenelly. “But the way that it's transpired has been utterly disappointing. I’ve really been angry, to say the least."

On Rochester’s radio airwaves, Bob Lonsberry has updated listeners on his daughter Aubrey’s service in the U.S. Army. After enlisting eight years ago, she has been part of the effort in Afghanistan in recent years.

“As a dad, I was proud, [but] as an American I was worried,” said Lonsberry, the longtime radio host on 1180 WHAM. “For 20 years, there have been a lot of families who have sent a lot of sons and daughters over there, who've done a lot of great work. And many, including so many in our region, have made horrible sacrifices their sons and daughters who didn't come home.”

Army Lieutenant Aubrey Lonsberry learned Arabic, and has spent much of her service time helping Afghan citizens — who are now under Taliban rule. Her dad says she was finally able to leave the country in the past few days.

“The way I look at it, the Afghanistan war was never about Afghanistan,” he said. “It was always about America. Our military exists to protect the United States. We were attacked in our homeland, we sent our military over there. And for the 20 years they were there, we were safe here. That’s mission accomplished.”

“I'm not sure we're much better off now 20 years later than we were when we went in,” said Chenelly. “But I know the will was very much there."

Chenelly, the national executive director of AMVETS, says he has been working to try and help civilian U.S. allies left behind to leave Afghanistan safely. When he enlisted, he never could have imagined a 20 year war; a war which is now over.

“The Taliban who now controls the country is the same force, same terrorist organization that we've been fighting for 20 years,” he said. "I don't have any faith that they're going to do the right thing here."