New brigade helps fuel growth in, around Knox

[unhappycamper]

In this Oct. 16 photo, Army Col. Chris Toner, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Divison, watches as troops pass in review at Ft. Knox, Ky. Knox reached a milestone as part of the military's base realignment with the partial arrival of its first active brigade available for combat deployment since the mid-1990s.


New brigade helps fuel growth in, around Knox
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Oct 25, 2009 15:20:39 EDT

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Fort Knox reached a milestone as part of the military’s base realignment with the partial arrival of its first active brigade available for combat deployment since the mid-1990s.

The arrival of the first wave of troops from the unit nicknamed “Duke Brigade” is part of a transition expected to add about 11,500 residents — soldiers, civilians and their families — in the Fort Knox and surrounding areas in the next two years, The Courier-Journal of Louisville reported.

The brigade of about 3,400 troops is moving from Fort Hood, Texas. About 1,000 brigade members are now stationed at Fort Knox, and an additional 2,400 troops are scheduled to arrive by summer.

Brigade commander Col. Chris Toner said about half of his troops are veterans of recent operations in Afghanistan. The other half includes new soldiers or members of other units, he said.

At a recent ceremony at Fort Knox, the Army recognized the six battalions for their work in Afghanistan, which included building hospitals, schools and roads along with fighting the Taliban. Red roses, delivered on horseback, were given to the families of soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/ap_army_knox_brigade_102509/



unhappycamper comment: If you're gonna be one, be a Big Red One.