1SG Donates to wounded Soldiers at CSH

Photo By Spc. Stephanie Homan | 1st. Sgt. Daniel Szczepankiewicz, Special Troops Batallion, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, shows a personal hygiene kit that his wife put together to Command Sgt. Maj. Marshall Huffman, 28th Combat Support Hospital command sergeant major. Szczepankiewicz and his wife donated approximately $2,000 worth of clothes and hygiene products to the CSH.  

04.22.2007

Courtesy Story

28th Public Affairs Detachment

Spc. Stephanie Homan
MNC-I PAO

"Not only are our Soldiers stripped of who they are because of their injury, they are stripped of their belongings as well," said 1st Sgt. Daniel Szczepankiewicz, Special Troops Battalion, Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Szczepankiewicz, an 18-year Army veteran, donated approximately $2,000 worth of items to the 28th Combat Support Hospital in the International Zone April 18. The items included socks, underwear, shirts and pants along with personal hygiene items personalized for men and women.

It was a joint effort from him and his wife, Carol, to give to the Soldiers of the CSH, Szczepankiewicz said. His wife purchased the items, put the kits together and mailed everything to him.

"I give credit to my wife for everything," he said. "She served (as a medic) here in Iraq during the invasion."

Capt. Eric Dunkley, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, MNC-I, accompanied Szczepankiewicz to the CSH for delivery. Dunkley, who also urges others to contribute to Soldiers injured here, has sent letters back home asking Family members and friends to send donations and "Thank You" letters to wounded Soldiers in theater.

"I wanted to be there for the donation," Dunkley said. "You should always visit troops if you have the opportunity, even if they are not your own troops or your branch of service. Do it just to let them know you care."

Dunkley, who is serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, said it is important for other Soldiers and troops to show their support to the injured.

"There is no better care provider in the Army than another Soldier because they can empathize and sympathize with each other," Dunkley said.

We are all the same, Szczepankiewicz said.

"They are us. They are our brothers and sisters in arms," he said.

• Date Taken: 04.22.2007
• Date Posted: 04.22.2007 02:08
• Story ID: 10038