Issa Calls for Congressional Remembrance of 13 Fallen Servicemembers in Afghanistan
U.S. Capitol Flags Flown at Half-Mast on Second Anniversary of Abbey Gate Bombing
Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) issued this statement following Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to fly Capitol flags at half-mast today on the second anniversary of the bombing that killed 13 American servicemembers in the last days of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“For two long years, the Gold Star families of the fallen in Afghanistan have waited for answers and accountability for the Biden Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Kabul. We know these mistakes and failures of leadership resulted in the deaths of these 13 brave servicemembers, but what came next only added to their family’s loss: President Biden has refused to meet with them, the Department of Defense has refused to answer key questions about their loved ones, and the State Department has withheld unclassified information about the withdrawal that the American people deserve to see—no matter how embarrassing it is to the Biden Administration.
“I called for the flags that fly over our Capitol to be lowered to half-mast today because this Congress should not flinch from recognizing the sacrifice these families have made and demonstrating our resolve to deliver the full measure of accountability they deserve.”
The names of the 13 fallen servicemembers are as follows:
- Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo
- Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
- SSgt. Darin T. Hoover
- Cpl. Hunter Lopez
- Cpl. Daegan W. Page
- Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
- LCpl. David L. Espinoza
- LCpl. Jared M. Schmitz
- LCpl. Rylee J. McCollum
- LCpl. Dylan R. Merola
- LCpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
- HM3 Maxton W. Soviak
- SSgt. Ryan C. Knauss