One of the nation's top military figures was in San Antonio, saying America is facing its most difficult war in generations.
Retired Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez then warned, the country must be careful not to go the path of Vietnam in its treatment of returning veterans.
General Sanchez was in San Antonio for a Veterans Summit downtown.
American ground forces in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 were led by General Sanchez, then the highest-ranking hispanic in the military.
Following his retirement, he has continued to speak out about the US role in Iraq.
He said it's important not to mistreat returning veterans because of differing views on the war.
"I see the potential, at least, that as national will erodes that we could well go down that path again and we must never allow that to happen," said Retired Lt. Gen. Sanchez.
Sanchez also said extremists like Al-Qaeda pose a serious danger to all Americans and it is a challenge each of us must confront.
