Operation Iraqi Freedom III
The 42nd Infantry Division mobilized and deployed several thousand soldiers from Fort Drum, New York, and Fort Dix, New Jersey, in 2004 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
As Task Force Liberty, the Rainbow Division provided command and control for 24,000 US and Coalition servicemembers, including Active Component, Army Reserve and Army National Guard forces from 18 states. The 42nd Infantry Division was the first Army National Guard Division Headquarters to deploy to combat since the Korean War.