101st Airborne to Take Over in Africa Deployment

The 101st Airborne Division is set to officially take command of an operation to build Ebola care centers in Africa.

The Fort Campbell-based soldiers will assume the leadership of Joint Forces Command - United Assistance in Monrovia on Saturday. At a change of command ceremony,  Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, the 101st Airborne commander, will step in for Maj. Gen. Darryl A. Williams.

Members of the 101st were sent to the West African nation of Liberia as part of the U.S. military's mission aimed at building care centers and training health care workers. The goal is to stop the spread of the virus.

The virus has infected more than 7,470 in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia and killed more than 3,400. Experts say the actual number is likely higher.