10th Mountain ‘Patriot Brigade’ to deploy to Iraq

10th Mountain ‘Patriot Brigade’ to deploy to Iraq
Staff report
Posted : Thursday Nov 8, 2007 18:12:05 EST

About 3,500 soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team will begin deploying to Iraq after a ceremony Friday at Fort Polk, La., on Honor Field.

The brigade, which is known as the “Patriot Brigade,” will mark its first deployment to Iraq as an entire brigade since its inception in January 2005.

Elements of the brigade, task forces Patriot, Warrior and Boar, deployed previously to Afghanistan, and most recently about 300 soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, returned in July from a four-month tour providing route security in Iraq, according to an Army press release.

The brigade’s division headquarters is located at Fort Drum, N.Y.

Through smaller deployments and constant training at Fort Polk, two Joint Readiness Training Center rotations, and a mission rehearsal exercise with 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, the 4th BCT soldiers have focused on preparing for the mission, the release said.

“Our soldiers are trained and ready to accomplish the mission given to us,” brigade commander Col. Mark A. Dewhurst said in the release. “As I look across our brigade formations, I am fully confident in our officer and non-commissioned officer corps to provide the necessary leadership to guide our soldiers through a productive, fulfilling and successful rotation.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/army_polkbrigade_071108w/

The mission that needs to be accomplished is an end to this horrible war.