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Excerpts from the Press Briefing by Scott McClellan, September 12, 2003 (Full Transcript)
QUESTION: Twenty thousand?MR. McCLELLAN: Yes; troops and families and others at Fort Stewart. The President will personally thank our troops in the 3rd Infantry Division for their service and sacrifice in both Afghanistan and Iraq and all that they are doing to help us win the war on terrorism. The President will also talk about how America is grateful for their service and sacrifice and how America is grateful for the men and women at the base who have provided critical support to our troops when they have been abroad, and how America is grateful to the sacrifices made by the families, as well.
QUESTION: Do you know if they -- the 3rd Infantry, they sustained the highest number of casualties, right, out of any unit? Do you know that?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know that for a fact. Let me double check that. Let me continue on. The President will talk about -- the focus of his remarks, beyond that, will be on the progress we are making in winning the war on terrorism. And let me give you -- the President will also present the 3rd Infantry Division with -- oh, let me give you a little bit on Fort Stewart. Fort Stewart is the largest military installation east of the Mississippi. It currently occupies 280,000 acres. It's home to the 3rd Infantry Division, as I mentioned. The 3rd Infantry Division has participated in virtually every military action from World War I, World War II, Korea, Grenada, Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. It was established in 1917, is known as the Rock of the Marne Division. The Rock of the Marne Division.