When Al Qaeda terrorists struck the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, many of the 13 American soldiers killed in the Kabul bombing Thursday were either not yet born, or were just children.
When Al Qaeda terrorists struck the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, many of the 13 American soldiers killed in the Kabul bombing on Thursday had not yet been born, or they were just children.
The latest victims of this never-ending war, hit by a suicide bomber at Hamid Karzai airport, were in Afghanistan to manage the evacuation of American and Afghan civilians, and to turn off the light of a twenty-year mission: their identities were disclosed between Friday and Saturday, and their names have been confirmed by local authorities in every corner of the country – from California to Ohio, from Tennessee to Massachusetts – or by family members themselves, who must be notified within 8 hours of death and that they have started mourning their loved ones on social networks.
Nicole Gee, 23, a sergeant of the Marines, had become famous for a photo of her holding a child during evacuations, which she posted a week ago on Instagram with the comment I love my job. The photo had become one of the symbols of the US military’s effort in favor of Afghan civilians, and was then relaunched on Twitter by the US Defense Department. Originally from Roseville, California, she was in charge of maintenance with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
One of the first victims identified was the Marine Corporal Rylee McCollum, 20, from Bondurant, Wyoming, who got married in February and was expecting a baby to be born in three weeks. He was born in February 2001 and since he was 3 years old he had been shooting with a toy rifle and dreamed of enlisting: he could not bear injustices, his father Jim recalled, and he defended his comrades who were bullied. He had enlisted as soon as he turned 18, asking his father to sign the authorization. He wanted to leave as quickly as possible, said the parent, who had never been able to enlist for medical reasons. Once his engagement with the Marines is over, he told al Washington Post her sister Cheyenne, she would have liked to be a history teacher or a wrestling coach, a sport she had practiced in high school. Rylee McCollum’s first foreign mission was in Jordan in April, then his unit was sent to Afghanistan to ensure the security of the Kabul airport. After leaving for Afghanistan, his father Jim found peace of mind by checking the dot in Messenger’s chat: if it was green, it meant his son Rylee was online, so he was alive. When he heard about the attack on Thursday, Jim McCollum ran to check his phone, but this time the dot was gray. Are you all right? He asked, getting no response. Yesterday afternoon, in my heart, I already knew, he told Friday at New York Times. Then, at 3.30 in the morning, two Marines knocked on his door, bringing the terrible news.
I stayed home from work on Thursday because there had been the attack and I knew my son Kareem was there, he told the Daily Beast Steve Nikoui, a bricklayer from Norco, California. I knew the marines contact families within 8 hours. Around 7.15pm I saw these young people coming home. He had already understood the fate of his son Kareem Nikoui, also in his twenties, martial arts champion. He was waiting for them because he wanted to intercept the bad news before his wife or other children came back and saw the Marines. They were more shocked than I was, he said. In the end, it was I who comforted them, but I wanted them to leave as soon as possible so that none of my family would meet them. In addition to the pain, anger over the death of her boyfriend is harboring in Pap Nikoui’s chest. I would like to respect President Biden, but I can’t, said the father, who had voted for Trump and was happy that his son had enlisted during his administration. I really believed it wouldn’t endanger other people. Instead they sent my son like a paper pass while the Taliban provided security. Biden has turned his back on him, the fault of our military leaders. The mother, Shana Chappell, posted on Instagram the last photo her son had sent her, taken on Sunday (the one on the left, ed). I felt the soul leave my body as I screamed that it couldn’t be true, Ms. Chappell wrote. No mother, no parent should ever be told that their child is gone. In the past few days he had sent videos shot with Afghan children to the airport. Try saying hello, he would say to one of them.
Max Soviak he was 22, and was a Navy medical officer. He was from Berlin Heights, Ohio, had played high school football and enlisted dreaming of a career in the navy. Everyone turned to Max in difficult situations. He was energetic and passionate, he told al New York Times his coach, Jim Hall. He was a good student, present in sports and other disciplines, Edison High School in Milan, Ohio, where he graduated in 2019, said in a statement. He was respected and loved by all who knew him. His death was confirmed by his older sister Marilyn on Instagram. He was a goddamn doctor, he was there to help people, and now that he’s gone my family will never be the same. There is a hole the size of Maxton that will never be filled again, he wrote. He was just a boy, and we guys send them over there to die. Guys with families, who now have a hole just like ours. A family friend, Jason Garza, opened a fundraiser for the Soviak family on GoFundme, which in a matter of hours raised $ 16,000 from 331 donors. The family is facing great pain, we wanted to relieve them of any financial thoughts so they can only think about themselves right now. Parents, Kip and Rachel Soviak, told the Washington Post who had recently heard him, on video call. Don’t worry, he told them. The kids won’t let anything happen to me. Instead, the mother said, they all left together.
He was twenty years old Jared Schmitz, a marine from St. Louis, Missouri: he had always dreamed of enlisting and, like McCollum, had come from Jordan. His life meant so much more, he told the local channel Kmox his father Mark, who received the news at 2.40 in the morning. I am devastated by the thought that I will not get to know the man he was becoming.
He was also twenty years old David lee espinoza, who was born in Laredo and lived with his family in Rio Bravo, Texas. He was a quiet, reserved but generous boy, he enrolled immediately after finishing high school in 2019. He was brave enough to go out to help people. It was like that, it was perfect, he told al Laredo Morning Times his mother Elizabeth Holguin. She had heard him last Wednesday and, before hanging up, she had whispered I love you. His name was confirmed by local police, who displayed the flags at half mast and expressed their grief with a statement posted on Facebook. Semper Fi, wrote the police department in the message of condolence, referring to the motto of the marines. Thanks for your service.
Hunter Lopez, 22, wanted to be a deputy sheriff like his parents once they left the Marines. Hunter was a scout scout at Palm Desert Station from 2014 to 2017. He was killed because he wore the US Marine uniform with love and pride, the Riverside Sheriff’s Association wrote, issuing a statement on behalf of his parents, Deputy Sheriff Alicia Lopez. and Captain Herman Lopez, who asked to donate the donations to the association’s relief fund. Like his parents, who serve our community, being in the Marines wasn’t a job for Hunter, it was a calling. With his comrades he was snatched from us too soon, and there are no words to express how much we will miss him. Semper Fi.
The marine was from Omaha, Nebraska Daegan Page, 23, passionate about hockey – he supported the Chicago Blackhawks – and hunting. We will always remember him for his tough outer shell and big heart, the family wrote Friday after hearing the news. A former boy scout, he had enlisted just out of high school and was stationed in Camp Pendleton, Southern California. He was always waiting to come home and spend time with his family and many friends in Nebraska, the family wrote. For his younger brothers he was a favorite playmate, and for friends he was a happy boy they could always count on.
Ryan Knauss he was a US Army soldier, a motivated young man who loved his country, as Grandpa Wayne recalled Friday. He was from Knoxville, Tennessee, had enlisted shortly after finishing high school, had already been stationed for 9 months in Afghanistan, and had just completed training in Psychology Operations. He was a very smart, funny guy, said stepmother Linnae Knauss, recalling how the 23-year-old loved building objects with his own hands and working in the garden with his wife Alena. The family learned of the death on Friday morning. it was a shock. We were told that the victims were 12 Marines and a member of the navy, while our grandson was in the army. We were praying for the families of the victims without knowing that he too had lost his life, said maternal grandmother Evelina Knauss. He was a believer, a devout Christian who had attended religious schools until middle school, Grandpa Wayne said. We will meet again in heaven.
The sergeant of the marines Darin Taylor Hoover Jr., 31, was a former high school football player in Midvale, Utah, and enrolled 11 years ago. He was the most lovable, unselfish, and understanding person you could ever meet, Father Darin al said Washington Post, who received condolence messages from dozens of Marines he had served as a sergeant. They say they learned so much from him, who was a leader, said Darin Hoover Sr. He did what he loved, guided his men and was with them to the end. He loved the United States and proved it with his service. We are broken and close to the families of his fallen brothers.
Also Johanny Rosario, 25, was a Marine Sergeant. She was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts and was a member of the US Marine Corps’ Female Engagement Team. After graduation, she attended Bridgewater State University, then enrolled. Right now the family wants their privacy to be respected, and that Johanny be remembered as the heroine she was, said Major Kendrys Vasquez, who brought the condolences of the administration to the Rosario family.
Dylan Merola, 20, was from Rancho Cucamonga, California, where he graduated from Los Osos High School. According to his mother Cheryl to CBS2, he had been in Kabul for less than two weeks, and dreamed of going to college and studying engineering. He said to me: “I won’t be able to talk for a while, they are sending us to another location. I love you, see you soon.” was his last message.
Humberto Sanchez he was from Logansport, Indiana, had finished high school for four years and was a corporal in the Marine Corps. He wasn’t even 30, and his whole life ahead, said Logansport Mayor Chris Martin, without confirming the name. Whatever plans he had for the future, he courageously sacrificed it to safeguard the lives of others.
August 28, 2021 (change August 28, 2021 | 21:50)
© Time.News