101st Airborne Update 10/15/07

101st Soldiers Puts Initial Boots on Ground in Iraq
Story by Capt. Jason Waggoner
Posted on 10.15.2007 at 01:12PM

Maj. Jason Waggoner
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Public Affairs Office

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq — Recently, a group of Soldiers from Kentucky put their boots on the ground in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom VI.

The lead elements of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Rakkasans,” 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) out of Fort Campbell, Ky., began arriving to the Baghdad International Airport, Oct. 13, for a 15-month tour in Iraq.

Soldiers from 626 Brigade Support Battalion and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, both from the 101st Abn. Div. were the first of the brigade’s main body to arrive to Iraq from their initial staging area in Kuwait.

“Our reception and integration plan, laid out by our advance party, will make for a seamless transition,” said Maj. Curtis Crum, the 3rd BCT operations officer and native of Richmond, Va. “We look forward to the challenges ahead.”

The brigade, which is on its third deployment in support of OIF, is in the process of assuming authority from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y, southwest of Baghdad.

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