Families React to President's Speech

Nearly everyone who answered their door in Killeen, home to the nation's largest military installation - Ft. Hood - said they are affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

That comes as no surprise. 10% of soldiers serving their country in the Army branch are stationed at Ft. Hood. Tuesday, a media spokesperson said 46,000 troops are stationed at the post. 19,000 are currently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and 25,000 more are in training for deployment.

When word the President has come up with a plan for an end to American involvement, it's safe to bet families like the Burrows are paying attention.

Tia Burrows is a military wife and mother, married to Christopher Burrows who is currently on assignment in the Middle East. She says her separation from her husband comes as a financial and emotional struggle.

“There's some depression in there and having the newborn baby makes it even harder,” she said.

Last month, Burrows returned home for R&R, but his leave did not allow him to stay an extra few days until his daughter, Madison, was born. Tia anticipates her husband's arrival at the end of his tour to come early next year. But she knows she'll also have to face the reality he might return.

President Barack Obama outlined his plan for the wars, telling the nation Tuesday night that he will begin withdrawing troops before the end of his first term in office, but that an additional 30,000 troops would be rapidly deployed now in order to accomplish the mission at hand.

“It's going to be real hard,” Burrows said.

Her mother, Debbie Foster, is helping take care of the couple's two young children while Christopher is away. But she says it's hard to see her daughter's loneliness and her son-in-law's pain.

“She has a lot of depression,” Foster said. “With the holidays and stuff, it's lonely.”

Foster is not in favor of the plan to send tens of thousands of troops overseas. She says the look in her daughter and son-in-law’s faces breaks her heart.

"I see the hurt in him when he talks to her on the computer. You can see the depressed look on his face. He's missing the kids,” Foster said.

Burrows gets to see his family through web cam and pictures sent over the Internet.

“He was so excited he started crying,” said Foster. “He says he can't wait to get back here to meet his daughter. I'll be glad when he gets home safe.”

Tyler Broadway is a spokesperson at Ft. Hood who says the Killeen community offers the post tremendous support during times of deployment. He's not sure how the President's plan will affect troops at Ft. Hood.

“We do know the well being of our soldiers and their families are a top priority and if or when we get deployment orders, we'll make sure they are the best trained and ready for their mission,” said Broadway.

Broadway says the only unit with orders for deployment currently is the 20th Engineer Battalion with roughly 700 members. They will depart to Afghanistan within the month. Broadway says the support from the Fort Hood community is strong, and the soldiers will be ready if they get the call.

“These soldiers know what they've gotten into and they signed up for it,” he said. “It's an all volunteer army and they understand that it is difficult, but that's what they signed up to do and that's what they continue to do. Recruitment numbers have never been stronger.”