13th COSCOM Association
The Official Association of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

by Pvt. Amy M. Lane

TEMPLE, Texas – After more than two years of raising funds, the 13th Corps Support Command Association is closer to meeting their goal. The 13th COSCOM Association is raising money to help finance a memorial for the fallen Soldiers of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). About 20 people from the local community, including many retired service members, attended the fundraising event at the Hilton Garden Inn in Temple on Dec. 8.

The planned memorial will honor the men and women from the 13th ESC who have been killed while supporting the global war on terrorism. Currently, the unit is on its third deployment providing logistics support for the entire Iraq theater of operations.

“The memorial will be complete before July 2010, when the 13th ESC returns home from their Iraq deployment,” said Kent Marquardt, president of the association and a retired Lt Col. who retired from the 13th ESC in 2005.

“The goal is to raise $106,000,” said Marquardt. “And the 13th COSCOM Association will continue to raise money to pay for the memorial even after its completion if it has too.”

So far, the association has raised $43,000 for the planned memorial.

Michael Gravens, a former III Corps Command Sgt. Maj. with 34 years in the Army, received a certificate for donating $2,500 at the reception.

“I look for ways to stay connected to the Army, and to give back to the community,” said Gravens. “My company has close ties with Fort Hood because it recruits Soldiers from the area.”

The 13th COSCOM Association already broke ground on the memorial back on Jun. 24.

“Many other Fort Hood units already have memorials for their fallen Soldiers,” said retired Command Sgt. Maj. Dan Elder, 13th COSCOM Association. “The 13th COSCOM Association has made the construction of this memorial one of its primary goals.”

When completed, the memorial will prominently feature the 13th ESC crest raised in the center of the monument. Surrounding the crest will be plaques commemorating the lives of Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while assigned to the 13th ESC.

In front of the memorial will be a brick path, each brick inscribed with a personalized message for the fallen. Benches will surround the memorial for visitors to contemplate the selflessness of our brave Soldiers.

“It’s a way to honor those who have served,” said Elder, “Service is something we’re accustomed to as Soldiers, we don’t always appreciate our own service.”

13th COSCOM Association is raising money through a buy-a-brick fundraiser, which allows donors to purchase a brick that will be engraved and placed in the walkway around the memorial.

“There is a fundraising golf tournament planned for this spring as well,” said Marquardt. “We also sent personalized letters to local corporations requesting donations.”

People can visit the association’s website to buy a brick and watch a video-graphic representation of the proposed project at www.13CCA.org.