In early February 1989, the last Soviet troops crossed the "Friendship" bridge from Afghanistan into Termez ending nine years of occupation. An estimated 15,000 Soviet soldiers died out of the 1,000,000 who served there. For the last soldiers out, the government staged a welcoming ceremony on the border with a parade and cheering civilians. For many of these troops, their return home would prove to be as difficult as the return for many American Viet Nam veterans.