Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009

Fort Bragg unit ends Iraq tour; 4th since 9/11

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- The 82nd Airborne Division's The 3rd Brigade will start arriving home this week after a year in Iraq.

The 3,500 paratrooper brigade deployed for the fourth time since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The unit operated in and around Baghdad acting as mentors to Iraq security forces. The first paratroopers are expected home starting Sunday.

The brigade, nicknamed the Panthers, has deployed to Afghanistan in July 2002 and twice to Iraq in August 2003 and August 2006. It also aided humanitarian efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.