KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, of the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), were awarded the 16th Sustainment Brigade’s shoulder sleeve insignia for wartime service, commonly called the “Combat Patch”.
The history of the combat patch dates back to the end of World War II, when the wear of the unit patch on the right shoulder was approved to denote service in combat with that unit. To many soldiers, the “Combat Patch” is a badge of honor.
During the ceremony, the Battalion senior leadership “patched” subordinates from each level of leadership. The ceremony started with the Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Michelle Letcher patching the Headquarters Company Commander, Capt. Christian Noumba all the way to the squad leaders applying the patch to the right shoulder of his or her squad members.
The 18th CSSB, “Warhammer Battalion”, has a proud history starting with its activation as the 3rd Ordnance Battalion in 1941, later re-designated as the 8th Ordnance Battalion.
The “Warhammers” arrived in Europe in the spring of 1944, in support of the 1st Army Division, as part of the 51st Ordnance Group. Later, the Warhammers stayed in Europe in support of the 9th and 7th Army Division during the initial occupation of Europe.
After its demobilization in 1946, the 8th Ordnance Battalion was reactivated in 1951, in Feudenhaven, Germany, and later moved to Hanau in 1955 and designated as the 18th Corps Support Battalion. In 2002 the Warhammers moved to its current base of operations in Grafenwoehr, Germany and shifted its focus from maintenance to transportation and ammunition management, as part of an “army realignment”.
The 18th CSSB has deployed to: Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Hungary, in support of Operation Joint Endeavor/Guard; Tirana, Albania and Kosovo, in support of NATO operations, as well as Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In conclusion of the ceremony, 18th CSSB commander, Lt. Col. Michelle M.T. Letcher quoted A French Infantryman’s View of American soldiers, “from what we have been given to witness, the American Soldier is a beautiful, and worthy, heir to those who liberated France and Europe.”
The soldiers of the 18th CSSB now join the ranks of their fellow veteran Warhammers, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, here in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.