Troops Get Longer Stay In Iraq

Tuesday, July 15, 2003

The Associated Press

"I wish I could tell you how long ... but everything I have told you before has changed."

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- AP
The Army said Monday it has extended the deployment of thousands of 3rd Infantry Division soldiers in Iraq due to increased attacks against coalition forces, dashing hopes that the troops would be home by September.

The 3rd Infantry Division deployed 16,500 troops to Iraq and was a leading force in the assault on Baghdad. The division suffered 36 deaths - more than any other unit in the war - and some of its troops have been in the region since September.

Maj. Gen. Buford C. Blount III, the division's commander, said last week he hoped the division's 1st and 2nd Brigade Combat Teams of roughly 9,000 soldiers could return home to Fort Stewart within the next six weeks.

But homecomings for those soldiers, as well as the division's 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, have now been postponed indefinitely.

The units have been ordered to stay "due to the uncertainty of the situation in Iraq and the recent increase in attacks on the coalition forces," Blount said in an e-mail message to Army spouses.
(More: Military.com)
2003 © The Associated Press.

Dan