The 18th CSSB, continues their support of the German War Graves Commission even while deployed.

Photo By Spc. Isaac Adams | All of the participant for the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and 427th Brigade Support Battalion pose after the completion of the run.  

AFGHANISTAN

12.15.2012

Story by Spc. Isaac Adams 

18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion held a 5 kilometer (3.1 miles) fundraiser run in support of the German War Graves Commission on Dec. 25 in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

The German War Graves Commission is a non-profit organization that is committed to giving fallen German soldiers their proper honors and burial. The Federal Republic of Germany does not have national fund that is used to bury their fallen war fighters, so the commission was designed to fill that need, by receiving the funds from the German population though donations.

The 18th CSSB, Warhammer Battalion, was the first and remains the only foreign military unit hold a partnership with the German War Graves Commission, and has been since 2009. The Warhammers have worked closely together with the Bundeswehr, German for ‘Federal Defense Force’, and the city of Freihung, Germany in the support of the commission.

5 km runs are commonplace in Kandahar Airfield, about one every week. Each run is set up to support different organizations and have proven to be a great way to raise money and awareness for those organizations.

"[This was] my 14th and last 5K that in Afghanistan. I won 3rd place for females. I'm very proud of myself!" stated Sgt. Shemile Colin, a chaplain’s assistant with Headquarters Company, 427th Brigade Support Battalion.

The Warhammer battalion decided that they would hold a run in support of the War Graves Commission shortly after they arrived in country in June.

The run was planned, organized and operated by the operations section of the 18th CSSB, Cpt. Stewart McGurk and Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Quinones.

McGurk said "Since the German War Graves Commission is not yet part of the Combined Federal Campaign, the 18th CSSB worked with the Kandahar Signal Support Group, a signal company from the Bundeswehr stationed at KAF. The KSSG solicited donations for the group and many Soldiers from the 18th voluntarily donated."

• Date Taken: 12.15.2012
• Date Posted: 01.17.2013 07:50
• Story ID: 100632
• Location: AF