An Afghan woman sits alone in the medical area of a warehouse that has been transformed into a processing center for evacuees on Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Aug. 30, 2021. Many of the Afghans who are being temporarily housed at the Army facility are suffering from depression and survivor guilt for those they left behind in Afghanistan, medical staff say.
‘There’s a lot of survivor guilt’: Army steps up to help vulnerable Afghans transiting through Germany

An Afghan woman sat alone in a warehouse at a barracks in Kaiserslautern that had been transformed into a processing center for evacuees.  It may have been hunger or pain that caused her to double over every once in awhile. Or it could have been a mental health issue facing many evacuees at the camp.

Lauren Williams sews a prayer garment for Afghan refugees at Ramstein Air Base on Aug. 26, 2021.
‘We’re here for as long as they need us’: US military communities in Europe step up to help Afghan evacuees

The alliesrefuge.org website had been set up, where people can see what the evacuees need and where volunteers are required. From there, the operation mushroomed into the effort it is now, with 200 people volunteering at the intake site every day, sorting through truckloads of donations, which are distributed at other sites around Ramstein.

A statue of Elvis Presley, paid for by fans, stands on a bridge in a park in Bad Nauheim, Germany, where the American singer lived from 1958-1960 when he served in the Army.
Bad Nauheim pays tribute to famous former resident, US Army Pvt. Elvis Presley

Every year since 2002 with the exception of last year, which was cancelled because of the pandemic, Bad Nauheim has hosted a festival to honor the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

U.S. Army veteran Skip, left, uses an iPad to speak to his family with the help of nurse manager Laurie Nicol, center, and recreation therapist Kristen Weber at Holyoke Soldiers Home in Holyoke, Mass., where he was in isolation due to COVID-19, April 20, 2020. Using technology to connect with others during coronavirus lockdowns and quarantines is thought to be one reason why suicidal thoughts among veterans fell during the pandemic, says a study published August 25, 2021.
Study finds link between coronavirus infection and suicidal thoughts in veterans

Among the nearly 3,100 veterans who took part in the study, the prevalence of suicidal thoughts fell from 10.6% prior to the pandemic to 7.8% 10 months into it, bucking predictions that coronavirus lockdowns and limits on travel and gatherings could leave veterans feeling lonelier and increase suicidal behaviors among them, the study said.

A little boy steps off the bus at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, after arriving on a U.S. military flight from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The boy was one of hundreds of evacuees from Afghanistan who were to spend the night Friday at Ramstein, which is prepared to temporarily support up to 5,000 people as they move to the United States and elsewhere after fleeing the Taliban.
First Afghanistan evacuees arrive at Ramstein Air Base

Evacuees seem to be in “good condition,” said Brig. Gen. Josh Olson, the 86th Airlift Wing commander. “They look exhausted. They look very tired” and are traveling with “very little,” he said. “But seeing the children and the families coming off with huge smiles, it warms your heart.”

Airmen set up cots at a hangar on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 19, 2021. Ramstein Air Base is providing lodging for evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge during the next several weeks.
‘We put ourselves in their shoes’: Ramstein airmen step up to help first wave of Afghanistan evacuees 

Hundreds of evacuees from Afghanistan, including many families with children, arrived at Ramstein Air Base from Qatar on Friday after a harrowing journey fleeing the Taliban’s takeover.

Runners in the 2019 Marine Corps Marathon pass the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., around 19 miles into the 26.2-mile race. Entries were still available as of Aug. 19 for the 2021 Marine Corps Marathon, 10K and 50K races, which will be held Oct. 31.
Marine Corps Marathon still taking entries for in-person, virtual events

In recent years, the popular race has sold out within minutes of registration opening in the spring, but this year there are still openings.

Air travelers head to departure gates at Denver International Airport in Colorado on June 6, 2021. Germany tightened coronavirus restrictions in mid-August for travelers from the United States, where the delta variant has pushed new infections back up to nearly 129,000 a day.
Delta variant surge leads Germany to reimpose restrictions on travelers from US

People 12 or older who were in the U.S. in the 10 days prior to entering Germany must show proof that they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19, or present a negative PCR or antigen test, the German health and interior ministries said on their websites.

U.S. charge d'affaires to the Netherlands, Marja Verloop, front left, walks alongside Association of the U.S. Army European region president, Tony Williams, on the Oversteek Bridge in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, August 13, 2021, during the 2,491st Sunset March. The march remembers the 48 U.S. paratroopers who died crossing the Waal River on Sept. 20, 1944, which led to the liberation of Nijmegen.
‘We walk in silence’: Sunset March remembers US troops who liberated Dutch city during WWII

The march takes place every evening in Nijmegen to honor “48 young Americans who gave their lives” in a daring action during Operation Market Garden.

Bailey, an emotional support animal, at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio in June 2021. Emotional support animals are now counted as pets on Air Mobility Command flights, meaning they count toward the maximum of two animals that can travel on the Patriot Express with authorized passengers.
Defense Department changes rules for air travel with emotional support animals

Emotional support animals are no longer a recognized category on Defense Department flights and must fly as pets at their owners’ expense, Air Mobility Command officials said.