It seems like only yesterday.
But it's been five years since the unthinkable, unforgivable, and entirely predictable happened to thirteen of our finest.
Thirteen individual, precious pieces of American treasure.
Lordy.
Ed's posting during that ghastly day is replete with examples of the chaos unfolding, and then the horrible news as word of American casualties began to trickle in.
Update: Uh oh …
"NATO troops ordered to leave airport gates immediately”… to where? https://t.co/ySZeNohFyf
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) August 26, 2021Once the perimeter starts to shrink, we’re down to hours.
Update: Not just a one-off suicide attack, Kirby confirms:
Pentagon confirms US and civilian casualties at Abbey gate
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) August 26, 2021
Also confirms second explosion as previously reported by @JenGriffinFNC https://t.co/jfh1oESWCX
And that lying snek John Kirby, at the podium in the middle of all of it.
Makes me ill to this day.
An obviously mentally compromised POTATUS was mush-mouthing his way through mildly threatening vagaries as the number of American deaths rose from four to, finally, thirteen.
And Ed wrote this:
...Biden repeated “any attack,” not just a Taliban attack. He didn’t carve out any exceptions for ISIS-K, and in fact explicitly stated that group as a potential threat. He’s treating the Taliban as a legitimate authority in Kabul, especially in this statement from Friday. That makes the Taliban responsible for any attack on our forces. That was, in fact, the reason we attacked the Taliban after 9/11 — for harboring and protecting terrorists who killed Americans.
Does Biden make good on his red-line threat? The news that the military is welding the gates shut at Karzai Airport does not suggest much optimism for that outcome, but it’s not out of the question either. One might have to assume that any reprisal would have to wait until the “retrograde” is complete, lest the situation turn into an even bigger bloodbath. But if nothing at all happens, then it only emphasizes that we’re getting chased out of Afghanistan by terrorists.
In the meantime, keep these brave troops in your prayers. They knew that they were targets for suicide attacks at this gate, and yet they kept trying to save as many people as possible:
THEY KNEW THEY WERE TARGETS AND YET THEY KEPT TRYING TO SAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE
Because that's what AMERICANS do.
Even when it costs them everything.
Five years ago, Associated Press reporter Jim LaPorta couldn't speak for the effort it took to hold back the tears, his sorrow was so profound.
James Laporta, Associated Press reporter, chokes up while paying tribute to the U.S. service members who were killed in Kabul attack.
— MS NOW (@MSNOWNews) August 27, 2021
"Those service members were facilitating those Afghans to a better life, and perhaps to a life of peace." pic.twitter.com/n9IoVCH0am
IT'S A HARD DAY
It still is.
There was a brave baker's dozen in losses that day, thanks to the tremendous courage and dedication of those American military troops.
Eleven Marines, one Navy corpsman, and one soldier.
— Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao (@SECNAV) August 26, 2026
Say their names.
We must never forget. https://t.co/8JEOFpD2uX
THEY HELD THAT GATE SO THAT OTHERS COULD GET OUT
Five years ago today, Abbey Gate was the only way out of Afghanistan. Thousands of desperate people pressed against the wall, and our Marines stood in that crowd screening them by hand. Then an ISIS-K suicide bomber detonated a vest packed with ball bearings. One device killed 13… pic.twitter.com/Xe06H8ytXC
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) August 26, 2026
...One device killed 13 Americans and at least 170 Afghans, and wounded 45 more of our own.
They held that gate so others could get out. NEVER FORGET.
And we will never forget...
- Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover
- Marine Corps Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo
- Marine Corps Sergeant Nicole L. Gee
- Marine Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez
- Marine Corps Corporal Daegan W. Page
- Marine Corps Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez
- Marine Corps Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza
- Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz
- Marine Corps Lance Corporal Rylee J. McCollum
- Marine Corps Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola
- Marine Corps Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui
- Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Maxton W. Soviak
- Army Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss
...and never forgive.
Five years ago today in Kabul, a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate killed more than 180 people, including 13 US service members. May we never forget the costs of Biden's shameful withdrawal from Afghanistan - and may we always honor the sacrifice of those brave warriors.
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) August 26, 2026
Some things are simply unforgivable.
USA Today has ruled that grieving Gold Star parents who witnessed Biden checking his watch at Dover are “wrong”—meaning social media posts about Biden checking his watch (a thing that objectively happened) get squashed. https://t.co/HztnTzd0PB
— Daily Signal (@DailySignal) September 3, 2021
But very instructive.
The Afghanistan withdrawal disaster, the Abbey Gate sacrifices, and his actions during the dignified transfer set the tone for the rest of Biden's miserable term and formed a base irrevocably cast for his reprehensible, illegitimate legacy.
This baby made it. 13 Americans didn’t. 😢
— Cheri B✝️🇺🇸 (@CJB4221) August 26, 2026
...The people who served there still made a difference...
To the Thirteen's Gold Star families, I send all my love and heartfelt gratitude. I can only thank them for raising, loving, and then sharing such tremendous young Americans with this nation. We will never forget them.
God bless you all, and may the good Lord hold you and your precious young folks close in the palm of His hand.
Semper Fi, my brother and sister warriors.
Semper Fi
Editor's Note: Thanks to President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership, the warrior ethos is coming back to America's military.
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