Tuesday, Aug. 26, marks four years since the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul, where 13 American service members lost their lives in the deadliest day for US forces in Afghanistan in a decade, a tragedy that still reverberates across the nation and among the families who continue to grieve.
On Aug. 26, 2021, a suicide bomber affiliated with ISIS-K detonated an explosive device at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the US evacuation from Afghanistan, which had been ordered by President Joe Biden. The blast killed 11 Marines, a Navy corpsman, and an Army soldier, wounded 45 others, and left more than 160 Afghan civilians dead or injured.
The fallen service members were:
- Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, USMC
- Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, USMC
- Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, USMC
- Cpl. Hunter Lopez, USMC
- Cpl. Daegan W. Page, USMC
- Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, USMC
- LCpl. David L. Espinoza, USMC
- LCpl. Jared M. Schmitz, USMC
- LCpl. Rylee J. McCollum, USMC
- LCpl. Dylan R. Merola, USMC
- LCpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, USMC
- Petty Officer 3rd Class Maxton W. Soviak, USN
- Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, USA
They returned to US soil in flag-draped coffins.
The attack followed the Biden administration’s decision to abandon Bagram Airfield in July 2021 without notifying Afghan security forces. In the weeks that followed, the Taliban rapidly regained control of the country, overrunning major cities and Kabul itself. U.S. forces and allied personnel were left to evacuate tens of thousands through a single airfield, a situation many military experts later described as indefensible.
The Abbey Gate bombing was emblematic of broader failures in planning and execution during Biden’s first year in office. Billions of dollars in American military equipment were left behind, and thousands of Afghan allies and US citizens were stranded behind Taliban lines.
Five years later, Americans continue to honor the memory of the 13 who gave their lives at Abbey Gate. Their sacrifice remains a powerful reminder of the costs of war, the consequences of leadership decisions, and the enduring obligation to support those who served.
President Donald Trump proclaimed August 26, 2025, as a day in commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the attack at Abbey Gate: “I encourage all Americans to remember the heroism of the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and the Gold Star Families who carry on their proud legacy.”
IMAGINE IF YOU WAS SUDDENLY STANDING IN FRONT OF GOD & YOU COULD SEE THE GOOD ON ONE SIDE & THE BAD ON THE OTHER. HONESTLY ASK YOURSELF WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ALLOWING YOURSELF TO BE PLACED ON. OATH TAKERS CAUSED IT ALL TO US ALL MARK 11:15 TAKE IT BACK STAND FOR GOOD STUFF ONLY. MAGA
Looking forward to Gen Milley’s and others court martial
Thank you POTUS for remembering the fallen and comforting their families.
Always Remember
Thanks for the reminder.
Dementia Joe was certainly the first to forget this trajedy