La. Guard’s Tiger Brigade marks 20 years since historic Iraq deployment

A Soldier with the 256th Brigade hands out supplies to local children during a patrol in Iraq, Jan. 3, 2004. In addition to combat operations, the Louisiana National Guard brigade, then a mechanized infantry unit, supported humanitarian and civil affairs efforts during Operation Iraqi Freedom III. U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo
A Soldier with the 256th Brigade hands out supplies to local children during a patrol in Iraq, Jan. 3, 2004. In addition to combat operations, the Louisiana National Guard brigade, then a mechanized infantry unit, supported humanitarian and civil affairs efforts during Operation Iraqi Freedom III. U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo

This November, the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known as the Tiger Brigade, will commemorate 20 years since returning from its historic combat deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III (2004–2005).

The deployment marked the first time since World War II that Louisiana’s National Guard infantry units were sent to war overseas. During World War II,…