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WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2004 – Army 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers will go to Afghanistan to assist with security efforts for that country's Oct. 9 presidential elections.
The 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, "will deploy to Afghanistan to support the emerging democratic process taking place there by identifying, locating and holding accountable those terrorists who would interdict the free election process," according to a division news release. In one recent incident, anti-Afghan-government insurgents reportedly shot ground-to-air rockets at interim President Hamid Karzai's helicopter during a Sept. 16 campaign trip. No damage or injuries resulted from the attack. In earlier occurrences, Afghans registering to vote were targeted. The 505th previously served in Afghanistan from August 2002 to February 2003. The unit also saw service in Iraq from August 2003 to April 2004.
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