Thousands of Tennessee troops leaving for war

NASHVILLE (AP) -- Thousands of Tennessee National Guardsmen are leaving their homes this weekend for final preparations before they head to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The deployments include the state's largest guard unit, the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, which has more than 3,000 soldiers from 45 towns.

On Sunday, the guardsmen will head to Camp Shelby, Miss., for two months of training before deploying to Iraq.

In addition, 175 soldiers from the 1171st Transportation Company from Dresden and Tiptonville leave Friday bound for Fort Bliss, Texas, before heading to Iraq.

A Regional Corps Advisory Group, made up of 16 soldiers, departs Tuesday from Nashville for Camp Atterbury, Ind. They will be deployed to Afghanistan.