Posted on 08/26/2026 5:40:47 AM PDT by Red Badger
13 US servicemen and women were killed on August 26, 2021 by a suicide bomber during Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. – Fox-Grok image
===========================================================================================
Today is the five-year anniversary of the Kabul Airport bombing attack that killed 13 US servicemen and women and over 170 civilians.
The 13 U.S. service members killed in the ISIS-K suicide bombing at Abbey Gate (Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul) on August 26, 2021, were 11 Marines, one Navy hospital corpsman, and one Army soldier.
They are:
* Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover (also listed as Darin Taylor Hoover), 31, of Salt Lake City/Midvale, Utah
* Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo (also listed as Johanny Rosariopichardo or Johanny Rosario), 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
* Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento/Roseville, California
* Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California
* Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page (also listed with middle names William-Tyeler), 23, of Omaha, Nebraska
* Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana
* Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo/Laredo, Texas
* Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles/Wentzville, Missouri
* Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson/Bondurant, Wyoming
* Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
* Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California
* Navy Hospitalman (Petty Officer Third Class) Maxton W. Soviak (also Max Soviak), 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio
* Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton/Knoxville, Tennessee
===============================================================================================
NEVER FORGET — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joint Chief Chairman Mark Milley, and CentCom Commander General Kenneth McKenzie all knew about the Kabul Airport planned terrorist bombing at the Abbey Gate hours in advance.
The top US Military leaders knew that the Abbey Gate Soldiers were at the greatest risk.
Commanders calling in from Kabul relayed that the Abbey Gate, where American citizens had been told to gather in order to gain entrance to the airport, was the “highest risk,” and detailed their plans to protect the airport.
A photo taken outside the Kabul Airport prior to the Islamist bombing that killed 13 US servicemen and women.
Previously, American heroes confirmed to The Gateway Pundit that US brass knew the suicide bomber was in the area of the Kabul Airport but military brass would not let them take him out.
US Marine sniper later testified that this was true. He was not allowed to take out the bomber.
Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, a U.S. Marine Corps sniper who served in Afghanistan during the surrender to the Taliban forces, testified before Congress earlier this year. Vargas told Congress that he was denied permission to shoot the suicide bomber in Afghanistan that killed 13 service members and over 170 civilians during Joe Biden’s botched withdrawal from the country.
From his testimony:
Over the communication network we passed that there was a potential threat and an ID attack imminent. This was as serious as it could get. I requested engagement authority while my team leader was ready on the M110 semiautomatic sniper system. The response: Leadership did not have the engagement authority for us. Do not engage. I requested for the battalion commander, lieutenant Colonel Brad Whited, to come to the tower to see what we did. Wile we waited for him psychological operations individuals came to our tower immediately and confirmed the suspect met the suicide bomber description.
He eventually arrived, and we showed him our evidence, the photos we had of the two men. We reassured him of the ease of fire on the suicide bomber. Pointedly, we asked him for engagement authority and permission. We asked him if we could shoot. Our battalion commander said, and I quote, “I don’t know,” end quote. Myself and my team leader asked very harshly, “Well, who does? Because this is your responsibility, sir.”
He again replied he did not know, but would find out. We received no update and never got our answer. Eventually, the individual disappeared. To this day, we believe he was a suicide bomber. We made everyone on the ground aware operations had briefly halted, but then started again. Plain and simple, we were ignored. Our expertise was disregarded. No one was held accountable for our safety.
Joe Biden allowed the Islamic bomber Abdul Reham al Logari to escape from Bagram Air Base prison after Biden abandoned the base in the middle of the night.
Please remember these men and women and their families on this fifth anniversary of this tragedy.
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
There are managers who are not leader types. They refuse to do their jobs because they are terrified that they’ll do the wrong thing. They’ve learned that doing nothing is preferable to doing the wrong thing.
In my working career these were among the worst people to have in charge. They occupy the only position from which decisions can be made and they don’t do it. They allow disaster and then deflect the blame. In my experience, they’re right. By doing nothing, they never get fired or even a strong talking-to.
The real manager can do ten things right. But one “ah-shit” and they’ll be fired. The do-nothing manager will sail along untouched and finally retire with the gold watch.
Lloyd Austin killed all those people. And he walks free today. Shameful is an understatement.
The Peter Principle..............
“...Lloyd Austin killed all those people. And he walks free today. Shameful is an understatement....”
^THIS^
He should be arrested, tired, sentenced and executed for this....Yet, the evil SOB walks free breathing God’s good air. Spit.
Joe Biden never received due justice for his part in this..at least this has been my understanding.
And never will....................
The “spit” is 100% justified in that comment.
Milley too.
FJB
Absolutely Milley too. And can’t let Biden off the hook either.
Trump won the war. We had a peaceful occupation. Then Biden surrendered.
bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.