Apaches in S. Korea move to Iraq, Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Apaches in S. Korea move to Iraq, Afghanistan
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Nov 16, 2008 10:31:59 EST

SEOUL, South Korea — The United States will withdraw 20 Apache attack helicopters from South Korea for redeployment in Iraq and Afghanistan next year, the U.S. military said Sunday.

The U.S. has notified South Korea of its plan to re-station one of the two Apache battalions in South Korea to make the unit available for rotational deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military command in Seoul said in a statement.

There are 20 helicopters in each Apache battalion, according to U.S. military spokesman Kim Yong-kyu.

It was not immediately clear when the Apaches would be withdrawn from South Korea. The U.S. plans to send 12 A-10 attack aircraft and two MH-53 helicopters to South Korea next March to temporarily replace the departing Apaches, Kim said.

“The U.S. remains fully committed to the defense of the Republic of Korea and the overall security and stability of the region,” the statement quoted Lt. Gen. Joseph Fil, chief of the 8th U.S. Army in South Korea, as saying.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_army_helos_111608/%2e