On August 26, 2021 a suicide bombing happened at the Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, which was the only way out of Afghanistan. By then, Kabul had fallen and the Biden Administration had focused efforts in Kabul instead of Bagram.
The bomb killed 181 people and over 150 were injured.
This hit me rather hard. Not because I knew any of the dead but I’d been there twice for a contracting job. Bagram should have been the evacuation point but the powers that be were so desperate at getting us out of there that they felt that the loss of lives was acceptable.
People are finally getting awards for their service there and previously hidden documents are coming to light. It’s too late to save the dead but the lessons from this should be used to protect the living.
Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo
Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover
Cpl. Hunter Lopez
Cpl. Daegan W. Page
Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza
Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz
Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum
Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola Lance
Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
Corpsman Maxton Soviak
Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss
