Monday's Internet Edition, October 13, 2008.
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News editor - The 1st Cavalry Division has received the official word from the Department of Defense. The division will be staying at Fort Hood as its deployment orders have been canceled.
Cove residents were concerned about future deployments from the post, following the departure of more than 18,000 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division and other units at Fort Hood.
“The 1st Cavalry Division’s deployment order has been rescinded,” said Lt. Col. Paul Fisher, 1st Cavalry Division public affairs officer. “The division will no longer deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The division remains trained and ready to respond to any other missions assigned.”
Although the 1st Cav received its deployment orders March 5, the division remained at the bottom of the deployment queue until they were no longer needed in Iraq, said Major Vic Harris, 1st Cav deputy public affairs officer.
Harris said the division could still go to Iraq for support and stability operations. Although the order is not official and the war has not been declared won, Harris said the military’s mission has been accomplished.
The 1st Cav is assigned approximately 17,000 soldiers the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, and the 68th Chemical Company, deployed overseas in February and are currently serving in southwest Asia.
Harris said the 1st Cav has spent the last few months focused on getting ready to deploy, with everything to getting vaccinations to having extra training. “Now the division will now get back on the track of its regularly scheduled training, including the National Training Center regular training cycle,” he said.
City Council member Fred Harris is glad the 1st Cav won’t be deploying. “Their lives won’t be in jeopardy and their families will be intact.” Harris said one soldier told him he will get to stay home and see his baby born.
Harris said the canceled deployment will have a positive economic impact on Copperas Cove, but that it’s just a fallout. “You can always build another economy; you can’t build another life,” he said.