101st Airborne wraps up its colors to head to Afghanistan; 4th deployment in 2 wars

101st to Afghanistan; 4th deployment in 2 wars

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — The U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division is heading to Afghanistan this summer. It is the division’s fourth deployment since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began.

The division wrapped up its flag in a case during a ceremony Wednesday at its Fort Campbell post on the Tennessee-Kentucky state line.

That is the final step before taking over NATO operations in the eastern region of the country.

The entire division of 20,000 soldiers will be in Afghanistan this year and most will be stationed in areas in the eastern region near the Pakistan border.

Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell said the 101st units will focus on transferring responsibility for security to the Afghan government.