'We're going to war, bro': Young soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, are going to the Middle East, part of a group of U.S. paratroopers ordered to the region
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - For many of the soldiers, it would be their first mission. They packed up ammunition and rifles, placed last-minute calls to loved ones, then turned in their cell phones. Some gave blood.
Days after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the drone killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, raising fears of fresh conflict in the Middle East, the men and women of the U.S. Army’s storied 82nd Airborne Division are moving out in the largest “fast deployment” since the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
“This is the mission, man,” said Brian Knight, retired Army veteran who has been on five combat deployments to the Middle East. He is the current director of a chapter of the United Service Organizations military support charity. “The medics need you now. Move,” he said, before a handful of troops walked off to give a little less than a pint each.While members of the unit - considered the most mobile in the U.S. Army - are used to quick deployments, this was different, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Burns, an Army spokesman.
A sergeant started rattling off last names, checking them off from a list after “heres” and “yups” and “yos.”
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
As 3,500 Soldiers Deploy, a 'Whirlwind' Whips Through Fort BraggFAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Organizers of a monthly storytelling gathering for the children of soldiers are planning to spend part of their next meeting making yellow ribbons. A doughnut shop owner who often donates his fried goods to troops who are shipping out has spent the last few days rushing a batch
Read more »
As 3,500 Soldiers Deploy, a 'Whirlwind' Whips Through Fort BraggFAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Organizers of a monthly storytelling gathering for the children of soldiers are planning to spend part of their next meeting making yellow ribbons. A doughnut shop owner who often donates his fried goods to troops who are shipping out has spent the last few days rushing a batch
Read more »
Soldiers deploying to Middle East not allowed to take cell phonesIsamar Diaz, whose husband is on standby for deployment to the Middle East from Fort Bragg, talks about the hardship she’s facing as she prepares to birth their first child.
Read more »
Japan reiterates no change in plan to deploy Self-Defense Forces to Middle EastJapan is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East but there is no cha...
Read more »
Japan PM Abe sticks to plan to deploy forces to Middle EastJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe repeated his plans to deploy the Self-Defense...
Read more »
Pentagon to deploy roughly 3,500 more troops to Middle East with others placed on alert status, amid tensions with IranArmy paratroopers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, board an aircraft bound for the U.S. Central Command area of operations amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Read more »