FORT HOOD, Texas – Marking the official start of the 4th Infantry Division's deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Soldiers of the Ironhorse Division cased their colors at a ceremony on Fort Hood's Cameron Field today. 

Four hundred seventy Soldiers from the division's Support Brigade are already serving in Iraq and are providing logistical support in the Baghdad area of operations.

More than 20,000 Soldiers from the division will be deployed by Christmas. 

“Only 580 days ago, you (the 4th Inf. Div.) cased your first colors when you went to Iraq – yet here we are again,” said Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz, commanding general of III Corps and Fort Hood. “You have a tough job ahead of you with a tough and nasty insurgency. I can assure you that the enemy knows the 4th Infantry Division is back in town.”

During OIF 1, the division was headquartered in Tikrit and conducted operations throughout the “Sunni Triangle.” 

This time, the division will deploy to Baghdad and will focus on training the Iraqi Army and building Iraqi force capability to assume responsibility for their own security and self reliance