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KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division concluded its operations in Afghanistan on Tuesday.

The 10th Mountain Division, an infantry force equipped to fight under harsh conditions, first arrived in Afghanistan in fall 2001. The division completed five tours, including many operations in the volatile eastern region, and lost an estimated 177 soldiers to the protracted conflict.

"We were the first division here, and I think it's fitting we'd be the last" to complete a combat mission, said Maj. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the division's commander, following a ceremony marking the division's departure from rugged eastern Afghanistan.

The conclusion of the 10th Mountain Division's operations marks another step in America's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

President Barack Obama has announced that America's military presence in Afghanistan will be reduced to about 9,800 troops beyond 2014.

Despite the formal conclusion of the 10th Mountain Division's operations on Tuesday, Townsend said, "I expect our division is not done with this place ... I don't know that for sure, but I would be surprised if we are not back here in some shape, form or fashion."

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U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division ends mission in Afghanistan

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan The U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division formally concluded its operations in Afghanistan on Tuesday, another sign that the war is drawing to a close even as American commanders are evaluating whether they will have enough resources to support the fledgling Afghan military.

After five tours in Afghanistan since 2001, four of which included operations in the country's volatile and dangerous eastern provinces, most of the soldiers from the division will be en route to Fort Drum, N.Y., by this afternoon.

In the fall of 2001, the 10th Mountain Division was the first major army unit to arrive in Afghanistan in support of American Special Forces who helped topple the Taliban government. Since then, about 177 soldiers from the division have been killed while serving in the country.

"We were the first division here, and I think it's fitting we'd be the last" in a combat role, said Maj. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the division's commander, after a ceremony marking the division's departure.

The withdrawal of the 10th Mountain Division, an infantry force specially trained to fight in harsh weather, comes as coalition commanders race to meet President Barack Obama's orders for their post-2014 mission.

Though about 20,000 American troops remain in Afghanistan, Obama has said that number will be reduced to 9,800 by Jan. 1. Obama plans to cut that force in half by the end of 2015 and has pledged that all American troops will be gone from Afghanistan one year later.

Many Afghan military and political leaders, including newly-elected President Ashraf Ghani, worry Afghan forces will need support from the U.S. military for years to come.

In an interview published Monday in Foreign Policy magazine, Gen. John F. Campbell, commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, appeared to suggest he was prepared to ask Obama to extend the U.S. military's withdrawal time-frame.

But Campbell told the Washington Post on Tuesday that it was premature to speculate on what, if any, recommendation he may make to the Joint Chiefs of Staff about the future Afghan mission.

Major Army division ends mission in Afghanistan 11/04/14 [Last modified: Tuesday, November 4, 2014 6:41pm]

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Major Army division ends mission in Afghanistan

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