1,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune will leave for Afghanistan

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The Pentagon has announced about 1,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune will leave for Afghanistan later this month. Military sources have said the first forces are expected on the ground by Christmas. After the first of the year, officials say the Marines begin sending another 6,200 from Lejeune. And 800 from Camp Pendleton in California will also be sent. Not covered in Monday's announcement are the expected deployments of two Army brigades from Fort Campbell in Kentucky. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, was visiting Fort Campbell and Camp Lejeune on Monday to speak to troops expected to deploy as part of the new strategy. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)