Deadly Afghanistan Bombing: A Tragic Toll For Americans

The War in Afghanistan, which lasted from October 2001 to August 2021, resulted in the deaths of thousands of American service members. The number of U.S. military deaths in the conflict reached 2,459, with 1,922 of these being a direct result of hostile action. The war also saw high numbers of civilian contractor fatalities, with estimates ranging from 3,917 to over 8,000.

One of the deadliest days for American forces in the war occurred in August 2021, just days before the U.S.'s planned full withdrawal from Afghanistan. On this day, a bomb exploded at the Kabul Airport, killing 13 U.S. service members and over 100 Afghans.

13 US service members died in the Kabul bombing on 26 August 2021

On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, killed 13 US service members and about 170 Afghans. This was the first American military loss in the War in Afghanistan since February 2020. The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS–K) claimed responsibility for the attack.

The 13 US service members who lost their lives in the Kabul bombing were:

• Marine Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20
• Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23
• Marine Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, 31
• Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23
• Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22
• Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20
• Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20
• Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20
• Marine Cpl. Daegan Page, 23
• Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25
• Marine Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22
• Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20
• Navy Hospitalman Maxton Soviak, 22

The bombing was one of the deadliest days for American forces in the 20-year war in Afghanistan. It took place just days before the US's planned full withdrawal from the country, which had been overtaken by the Taliban.

The US House of Representatives voted to posthumously award the 13 service members the Congressional Gold Medal. President Biden called them "heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others."

11 Marines, one Army soldier and one Navy member were among the dead

On August 26, 2021, a suicide bombing attack took place during evacuations at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. 13 U.S. service members were killed in the attack, including 11 Marines, one Army soldier, and one Navy member. This attack was one of the deadliest days for American forces in the 20-year-long war in Afghanistan.

The 11 Marines who lost their lives in the attack were:

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas
• Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California
• Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah
• Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California
• Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
• Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri
• Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska

The Army soldier who was killed was Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.

The Navy member who lost his life in the attack was Hospital Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

These brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country and saving the lives of others. They were honoured posthumously with the Congressional Gold Medal, and their bravery and selflessness will never be forgotten.

The US House of Representatives posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to those killed

On August 26, 2021, a bomb exploded at the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan, killing 13 U.S. service members and over 100 Afghans. This attack occurred during the frenetic last days of the American evacuation of Afghanistan, as the Taliban took over the city. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 American service members killed in the bombing.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements bestowed by the United States Congress. The bill to award the medals was introduced by Michigan Republican Rep. Lisa McClain and co-sponsored by over 300 representatives, receiving unanimous support in the House. President Biden referred to the Americans who lost their lives in the bombing as "heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others."

The 13 service members who were killed in the attack and will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal are:

• Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, 31
• Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25
• Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23
• Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22
• Cpl. Daegan Page, 23
• Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22
• Cpl. David Lee Espinoza, 20
• Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20
• Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20
• Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20
• Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20
• Hospitalman Maxton Soviak, 22
• Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23
• One Navy sailor (name unknown)

The bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to these service members was signed into law by President Biden in December 2021. The medals will be handed over to the Smithsonian Institution and displayed there.

The attack was one of the deadliest days for American forces in the 20-year war in Afghanistan

On August 26, 2021, 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghans were killed in a suicide bombing attack during evacuations at the Kabul airport. This was one of the deadliest days for American forces in the 20-year war in Afghanistan. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to posthumously award the 13 Americans killed in the bombing the Congressional Gold Medal.

The attack took place just days before the U.S.'s planned full withdrawal from the country, which had been overtaken by the Taliban. The service members who lost their lives in the bombing included 11 Marines, one Army soldier, and one member of the Navy. They were helping to evacuate U.S. citizens and Afghans seeking asylum when the bomb went off.

The war in Afghanistan lasted from October 2001 to August 2021 and resulted in the deaths of 2,459 United States military personnel. Of these, 1,922 were due to hostile action. In addition, 18 Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives and 1,822 civilian contractors also died in Afghanistan. The war also led to a high number of suicides among U.S. service members and veterans, with over 30,177 taking their own lives.

The human cost of the war extends beyond those who lost their lives. The war-induced breakdown of the economy, public health, security, and infrastructure has had devastating consequences for Afghans. 92% of the population faces food insecurity, and 3 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition. The war has also left invisible wounds, with two-thirds of Afghans suffering from mental health problems.

The US government spent $2.3 trillion on the war in Afghanistan

The human cost of the war was immense. According to the United States Institute of Peace, 2,324 US military personnel, 3,917 US contractors, and 1,144 allied troops lost their lives. Additionally, an estimated 70,000 Afghan military and police personnel and 46,319 civilians were killed, although this number is likely an underestimation. The war also left countless individuals suffering from physical and psychological wounds, with high rates of PTSD and other mental health issues reported among veterans and civilians alike.

The economic and social impacts of the war were equally devastating. Afghanistan's economy lay in ruins, with 92% of the population facing food insecurity and half living on less than $1.90 per day. The war disrupted public health, security, and infrastructure, leading to increased malnutrition, reduced access to healthcare, and environmental degradation. The conflict also contributed to the rise of the illicit economy, with Afghanistan becoming the leading global supplier of opium and heroin.

The US government's efforts to rebuild Afghanistan were largely unsuccessful, with much of the $144 billion appropriated for reconstruction lost to corruption, wasteful spending, and failed projects. The $88.3 billion spent on training and equipping the Afghan army was particularly criticized as a failure, as the Afghan forces were unable to withstand the Taliban's advance.

The war in Afghanistan had far-reaching consequences, with the total cost of the post-9/11 wars in the region estimated to be even higher when including conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere. The human toll of these wars is staggering, with over 243,000 people killed directly and countless more impacted by disease, malnutrition, and loss of access to basic necessities.

The $2.3 trillion spent on the war in Afghanistan represents a significant investment of US resources, and the failure to achieve a stable and secure nation-building effort has led to questions about the effectiveness of US strategies and the long-term impact on US interests in the region.

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