The Fayetteville community is concerned about the thousands of Fort Bragg soldiers who have deployed to the Middle East.
Local businesses have already stepped up to show their support. A Dunkin’ Donuts is donating 1,000 donuts every day for the next five days to the United Service Organizations and the Fort Bragg post.
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About 3,500 members of the 82nd Airborne Division have shipped out to the Middle East, along with 2,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune.
Close to 6,500 service members have been sent to the Middle East from North Carolina in the past five days, according to officials.
“When the president picks up the phone and dials 911, it rings here," said Brian Knight, USO Operations Director at Fort Bragg who has spent 16 years with the 82nd Airborne.
Knight told families to prepare for nine months apart with hopes the soldiers will return safe even sooner. “There’s no better-trained fighting force in our armed forces to execute this mission," he said.