Remembering The Fallen: Marine Casualties In Afghanistan During The Trump Years

During Donald Trump's presidency, from January 2017 to January 2021, 63 U.S. military service members lost their lives in the war in Afghanistan. This figure includes 45 combat deaths and 18 non-hostile deaths. Trump has falsely claimed that there were no U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan for an 18-month period during his presidency. However, this claim has been debunked by various sources, including the Defense Casualty Analysis System, which records U.S. military casualties. The highest number of American fatalities recorded in a single incident during the war in Afghanistan occurred on August 6, 2011, when a transport helicopter was shot down, resulting in the deaths of 30 Americans, including 22 Navy SEALs.

Trump's misleading claims about Afghanistan casualties

Former US President Donald Trump has made several misleading claims about the number of American casualties in Afghanistan during his presidency.

Trump has stated that there was an 18-month period during his presidency when "we didn't lose one American soldier" in Afghanistan. However, this claim has been proven false by various sources, including the Defense Casualty Analysis System, which records US military casualties. There was no 18-month period under Trump's presidency alone where no combat deaths were reported.

If Trump was referring to the 18 months preceding the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which included months under the Biden administration, there were indeed no combat deaths. However, there were several "non-hostile" deaths during this period.

Looking at other time frames during Trump's presidency also contradicts his claim. For example, during the last 18 months before he left office, from July 2019 to December 2020, there were 12 combat deaths reported.

In total, there were 45 combat deaths and 18 non-hostile deaths among US service members in Afghanistan during Trump's presidency, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System.

Trump's administration was responsible for negotiating the initial agreement with the Taliban to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, with a deadline of May 1, 2021. This deadline was later delayed by President Biden.

The decision to withdraw from Afghanistan has been a controversial topic, with critics arguing that the swift Taliban takeover and collapse of the Afghan government could have been avoided with better planning.

It is important for politicians and the media to provide accurate information about military casualties to honor the service and sacrifice of those who served and to inform the public about the true cost of war.

The number of Marine deaths in the Kabul airport bombing

On August 26, 2021, two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the crowds of Afghans who were flocking to Kabul's airport in a desperate attempt to flee the Taliban takeover. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed 13 U.S. troops and approximately 60 Afghan civilians.

Of the 13 U.S. service members killed, 11 were Marines and one was a Navy medic. The names of the fallen Marines were:

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

The Navy corpsman who died in the attack was Hospital Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

The attack on August 26 was one of the deadliest days for American forces in the 20-year war in Afghanistan. It is believed to be the most U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan in a single incident since 2011, when a helicopter was shot down, resulting in the deaths of 30 Americans.

The total US military deaths in the War in Afghanistan

The War in Afghanistan, which lasted from October 2001 to August 2021, resulted in 2,459 United States military deaths. Of these, 1,922 were a result of hostile action, and 534 were non-hostile. There were also three deaths listed as "pending status". Additionally, 18 Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives died in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense also reported that 20,769 American service members were wounded in action during the war.

The Defense Casualty Analysis System reported that during the Trump presidency, from January 2017 to January 2021, 63 U.S. military service members were killed in the war. This included 45 combat deaths and 18 non-hostile deaths. However, Trump claimed that there was an 18-month period during his presidency when no U.S. soldiers died in Afghanistan. This claim has been proven false, as there were no 18-month periods without casualties during his term.

The U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan was America's longest war. The conflict began under President George W. Bush in 2001, in response to the Al-Qaeda September 11 attacks. The goal to pacify Afghanistan and establish a democratic civil society was never achieved. The war resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries, with over 20,000 U.S. soldiers wounded and many living with permanent disabilities. The cost of military operations was approximately $824 billion.

The decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was initially made by the Trump administration, with the withdrawal initiated under President Biden. The withdrawal of U.S. troops and the takeover by the Taliban left U.S. officials stunned. The war's legacy is viewed by many as a foreign policy embarrassment.

The number of US troops who died in Afghanistan under Trump

The War in Afghanistan was America's longest war, lasting from October 2001 to August 2021. During this time, 2,459 United States military personnel died, with 1,922 of these deaths resulting from hostile action.

Former President Donald Trump has claimed that there was an 18-month period during his presidency when no U.S. soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. However, this claim has been proven false. According to the Defense Casualty Analysis System, there were 45 combat deaths and 18 non-hostile deaths of U.S. service members in Afghanistan during Trump's presidency, from January 2017 to January 2021.

If Trump was referring to the 18 months preceding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, from February 2020 to August 2021, there were 15 total deaths recorded as "hostile deaths", with 2 in February 2020 and 13 in August 2021. However, this period includes months under the Biden administration as well.

During Trump's entire presidency, a total of 63 U.S. military service members lost their lives in the war in Afghanistan. In 2017, there were 14 total deaths, 15 in 2018, 23 in 2019, and 11 in 2020.

The 13 U.S. service members who were killed in the August 2021 attack at the Kabul airport were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. This attack was one of the deadliest days for American forces in the past decade of the war in Afghanistan.

The number of civilian contractor fatalities

The War in Afghanistan, which lasted from October 2001 to August 2021, saw a significant loss of lives, including civilian contractor fatalities. While the exact number of civilian contractor deaths is not known, various sources provide estimates ranging from 1,688 to 3,814. The U.S. Department of Labor confirmed that by March 31, 2021, a total of 1,822 civilian contractors had lost their lives in Afghanistan. This figure represents the sacrifices made by individuals working in a variety of roles, including administrative, logistical, security, and support functions.

The high number of civilian contractor fatalities highlights the extent to which the U.S. military relied on contractors during the war. They played a crucial role in providing logistical support, fuel, food, and protective services to U.S. military outposts. The ratio of contractors to military personnel in the CENTCOM region was significant, with 43,800 contractors compared to 15,000 military personnel in October 2020.

The lack of comprehensive data on civilian contractor fatalities has been attributed to inadequate reporting by companies employing these workers and a lack of centralized tracking by government agencies. The Defense Base Act, a federal law, requires contract firms to purchase insurance to cover civilians injured or killed while working abroad on federal contracts. However, the Labor Department's data, which is based on this reporting, is still considered incomplete.

The true toll of civilian contractor deaths in Afghanistan may never be fully known, but their sacrifices and contributions to the U.S. military efforts cannot be overstated. They worked alongside military personnel, often in dangerous and challenging conditions, and their role in supporting the war effort deserves recognition.

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