After close to 20 years in Afghanistan - August 2021 was looking to be the month when U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan. But things didn’t go as smoothly as everyone hoped. And on August 26, 2021, a suicide bomber got close enough to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, and killed roughly 200 people – including 13 U.S. military service members who were assisting at the checkpoint.

This episode is a tribute to the Fallen 13 – 13 U.S. military members who gave their life protecting others. There were 11 Marines, 1 Navy Sailor, and 1 Army Soldier.

The Fallen 13 are:

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. 

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California. 

Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California. 

Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska. 

Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana. 

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas. 

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri.  

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. 

Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee. 

Dig in with Margot as she pays tribute to those who gave their life.  

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Music in this episode was composed by Tyops and BigManJoe. 

Taps rendition at the end is by the Marine Corps Band – The President’s Own and can be found here.

Sources for this episode can be found below:

·      https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2756011/dod-identifies-marine-corps-navy-and-army-casualties/

·      https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-service-members-killed-kabul-airport-attack-what-we-know-about-the-victims/

·      https://www.nytimes.com/article/us-soldiers-killed-afghanistan.html

·      https://www.thedailybeast.com/slain-marine-kareem-nikouis-dad-vents-anger-at-military-biden-after-kabul-airport-blasts

·      https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/service-members-killed-outside-kabul-s-airport-remembered-heroes-n1277839

·      https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-marine-killed-afghanistan-blast-was-newlywed-wyoming-2021-08-27/

·      https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/27/us/kabul-attack-us-service-members-killed/index.html

·      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlnnyCEHy1g

·      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFQhnGZNcck

·      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncAkH0XCvJs

·      https://www.wcvb.com/article/johanny-rosario-lawrence-marine-killed-afghanistan-airport-bombing/37419841#

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Military Murder is a military true crime podcast that focuses on murders committed by military members, veterans, and sometimes their family members.

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