USFK to Complete Transport to Iraq by Following Week

Three thousand and six hundred soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division of the United States Forces in Korea will leave Korea by next week as the air transport of soldiers began early this week.

Stars and Stripes, a newsletter for overseas U.S. forces, reported on August 4 that the first batch of 191 troops left Korea after a send-off ceremony at Tongduchon Camp Casey, and the remaining forces are due to complete their departure by next week with 16 more airlifts.

After the transport, the 2nd Infantry Division will be left with about 10,400 from 14,000 soldiers. Also, the Korean army will take over most of the missions that were assigned to the 2nd Brigade, including the defense of the line along Seoul and Moonsan, and infiltration behind enemy lines in case of conflict with the North Korean army. The 2nd Brigade will serve under the U.S. 2nd Marine Expedition Team at Anbar Province in western Iraq for a year, and it is presumed that they will not return to Korea upon completing their mission in Iraq.

Ho-Won Choi bestiger@donga.com