PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - "Today we are out here honoring the memory of our fallen soldiers," said Sgt. Maj. Doug Merritt, command sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)., native of Harrisburg, Pa. "For 1-506, we're honoring our five fallen Soldiers but we want to make it known that we are running for the memory of all fallen soldiers."
The 6th annual Run for the Fallen is a 3.6-mile race, facilitated by the Fort Campbell Army Community Service, to commemorate soldiers that have fallen in service to their country.
While serving their country, deployed in Afghanistan, soldiers with the 1st Bn. 506th Inf. Regt., as well as 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, both part of the 4th BCT, 101st Abn. Div., among others, conducted their own Run for the Fallen, running 5.06 kilometers (3.14 miles), on Oct. 26, at Forward Operating Base Gardez and Combat Outpost Wilderness, Afghanistan.
"The distance of the run was 5.06 (kilometers) symbolizing the 506th Infantry Regiment, Currahee," exclaimed Merritt. "They are conducting a run for the fallen back at Fort Campbell, that's why we are doing it out here, so we can represent (our battalion) on the same day."
Being a "Red Currahee", the soldiers were inspired from the start, for a chance at showing their respect for their fallen brothers, no matter what it took.
"I woke up this morning ready to run," said Pfc. Andrew M. Masteller, a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn. 506th Inf. Regt., 4th BCT, 101st Abn. Div., and a native of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. "We got out here and everybody was just motivated, pumped up to do this. It's for a good cause."
Conducting the Run for the Fallen, was a way for the deployed Currahees to honor and remember the sacrifices made during their deployment.
"You have them in the back of your head and you keep going," Masteller expressed. "They were a bunch of great dudes, great leaders and they will be greatly missed."
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