On Saturday, Oct. 24, The American Legion and Target Corp. begin replacing personal items U.S. soldiers were forced to destroy in an Oct. 3 attack in the rugged Nuristan province of Afghanistan.

Between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., Legionnaires will go to a Target Store in Colorado Springs and purchase thousands of dollars worth of DVDs, video games, books, magazines and other comfort items for surviving Fort Carson-based Bravo Troop 3-61 Cavalry soldiers who remain in Afghanistan or are recovering from the battle. The Target Store is located at 3810 East Bloomington Street, Colorado Springs.

The items will be transported from the store to American Legion Post 209 at 3613 Jeannine Drive in Colorado Springs for a packing and shipping party. Some family members of the troops are expected to be present.

A fundraising drive on an American Legion blog site, The Burn Pit, netted more than $50,000 in cash donations to help the soldiers replace their personal belongings. Outnumbered and surrounded in a rugged mountain valley, the besieged troops were forced to call in an artillery strike on their own position, escaping Combat Outpost Keating with little more than the clothes on their backs Oct. 3. Eight American troops were killed in the battle.

Upon learning of the COP Keating Relief Fund, Target Corp. matched The American Legion Burn Pit cash contribution with $50,000 worth of merchandise and gift cards. In addition to the purchases made at the store in Colorado Springs, merchandise will be trucked from a Target regional distribution center to Post 209 for packing and preparation.

Similar shopping and packing events are scheduled in Minneapolis, home of Target's corporate headquarters, on Oct. 27 at 10 a.m.; and Triangle, Va., on Oct. 29 at approximately 10 a.m.

The Target Store involved with the event Tuesday, Oct. 27, is located at 7000 York Ave., Edina, Minn.; merchandise purchased there will be assembled and shipped from Richfield American Legion Post 435, 6501 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis.

The Target Store involved with the event Thursday, Oct. 29, is located at 4310 Fortuna Center Plz., Dumfries, Va.; merchandise purchased there will be assembled and shipped from American Legion Post 28, 17934 Liming Lane, Triangle, Va.