(Harrisburg) -- As U.S. combat troops prepare to withdraw from Iraq, soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard are reflecting on their time in the Middle East. Guard Colonel Scott Perry was deployed to Iraq in 2009 and is also a state house member from York County and parts of Cumberland County. He shared some memories of his time in Iraq on WITF's Radio Smart Talk. Perry says he thinks P-A guard members brought a unique set of skills to the conflict. "You've got a 54-year-old guy that can shoot, write stories, communicate, empathize. Maybe there's an electrician or a plumber, or even a politician. The guard brings that whole facet to the fight," Perry says. He adds he'll always remember gritty desert conditions and 130-degree heat during the Guard's largest deployment since World War II. President Obama says all U.S. troops will leave Iraq by December 31st.