Aug. 26, 2025 - Kabul 13 Remembered

Post 201 Remembers

Kabul 13 with Crosses

Placed at Marquee Sign

Post 201 has placed 13 crosses on the hill at the intersection of Wills Road and Old Milton Parkway/Rucker Road to mark the fourth anniversary of the Aug. 26, 2021 death of 13 U.S. Service members and numerous Afghan civilians.

The attack, carried out by a lone ISIS-K suicide bomber at Abbey Gate during the chaotic evacuation efforts, stands as a devastating reminder of the human cost of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

At the time, the U.S. was engaged in a massive evacuation effort at Hamid Karzai International Airport when the attack occurred. The 13 U.S. service members killed included 11 Marines, a Navy corpsman, and an Army soldier. The bomber used an explosive device packed with ball bearings which also killed at least 170 Afghan civilians in addition to the American service members.

A supplemental review of the initial investigation, ordered by U.S. Army Central Command in September 2023, confirmed a single ISIS-K suicide bomber and reaffirmed the initial findings that the attack could not have been preventable at the tactical level.

To this day families of the fallen service members continue to express frustration and demand accountability regarding the handling of the withdrawal. This year’s fourth anniversary also serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served in Afghanistan during the period of Oct. 7, 2001 to Aug. 30, 2021. It also highlights the lasting impact of the attack as well as the ongoing debate surrounding the withdrawal itself.

The 13 U.S. service members who died in Abbey Gate attack were: 

    • Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza

    • Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee

    • Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover

    • Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Christian Knauss

    • Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez

    • Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum

    • Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola

    • Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui

    • Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page

    • Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario

    • Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez

    • Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz

    • Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak

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