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2ID brigade deploys from Korea for OIF

Army News Service

By Spc. Chris Stephens

CAMP CASEY, South Korea (Army News Service, Aug. 10, 2004) -- Units from the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division are now deploying to the Middle East from South Korea.

For more than 50 years the 2nd Infantry Division has guarded freedom's frontier in South Korea, as part of the Armistice Agreement signed on July 27, 1953.

But, today, that mission has changed for the division's 2nd Brigade.

"Our new mission is to support Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Capt. Eric Morris, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Inf. Div. "It's a change from what we're used to on the Korean Peninsula. Now, we must support the people of Iraq and their endeavors to become a free nation."

In May, the brigade received orders that it would be deploying to Iraq for one year. With that knowledge, key leaders from the brigade and the division started the process of training the Soldiers for their upcoming deployment.

"In the past few months, we've done a lot of training on improvised explosive devices, Iraqi culture, ambush attacks and live-fire scenarios," said Sgt. James Coombs, HHC, 2nd Brigade. "Those are things that we wouldn't normally see here in Korea.

"But, although the mission has changed, the intensity level is still the same," he said. "It's just the enemy is different."

For many Soldiers, this will be their first deployment to the Middle East, something not many of them expected when they received their orders to come to Korea.

"No Soldier assigned to any of the units of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team ever thought they would deploy from Korea," Morris said. "It was assumed that we are already forwardly deployed and the nation would not call on us to do a tour in Iraq."

But, due to the number of brigades needed in Iraq and the number of brigades the Army has, it was decided for 2nd Brigade to relieve the stress from other units, who have served in the Middle East.

"The Army needs every able-bodied unit to serve in Iraq," said Staff Sgt. James Render, 102nd Military Intelligence Battalion. "Many units come back after being in Iraq for a year, and find themselves in the blocks to go again. That doesn't suit families well, so this is a way to provide a little bit more time for those units, not only to get theirselves back up to the standards in training, but it also allows them more time to spend with their families."

Even with the number of Soldiers who haven't deployed before, there are a number of veterans who know what to expect during deployment.

"Many of us who have deployed before took our knowledge and passed it down to our Soldiers so they would be better prepared than we were on our first deployment," said Sgt. James Murray, B Company, 122nd Signal Battalion. "In turn, our Soldiers are going to know what to expect and they will have all of the tools to accomplish their mission.

The Soldiers of the 2nd BCT are also creating history with the 2nd Inf. Div. as it is the first time anyone from the division's storied history has deployed since the Korean War - history many Soldiers said they are ready to add to.

"When you think about it, the history of the 2nd Infantry Division won't be the same when we get back," Coombs said. "We're going to be deployed to a region the division has never been to before and that's something the history books will take notice of."

For some of the Soldiers, they're following in the footsteps of their fathers, uncles or grandfathers by deploying to a combat zone. With that in mind, many feel the pride of serving their country.

"My grandfather served in the Korean War and for me there is no higher honor than serving my country in a time of war as well," said Pvt. Ryan Johnson, 44th Engineer Company. "All I'm doing is carrying on the family tradition."

As each of the battalions and companies deployed in the first days of August, they were reminded of what their mission is in Iraq.

"We're there to support the nation of Iraq and do whatever it takes to help them become a free nation," Coombs said.