Issa Holds First-Ever Congressional Forum for Gold Star Families of the 13 Servicemembers lost in Afghanistan Withdrawal

Escondido, CA – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) held a public forum in Southern California Monday to receive testimony from the Gold Star families of the 13 servicemembers killed in the final days of President Biden’s catastrophic 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. 
 
For the first time, these families shared with the public the stories of their fallen heroes while detailing to the myriad ways the Biden Administration has ignored them for almost two years. 
 
“The Biden Administration lied to every one of these Gold Star families, and that's why we brought them forward. These are the words the White House didn’t want the country to hear,” said Rep. Issa. “No longer will President Biden be able to turn the page on these families and continue to call the Afghanistan withdrawal a ‘success’ while hiding the truth from the American people."
 
Family members sharing their impact statements at the forum included: 

• Kelly Barnett, mother of SSgt Darin T. Hoover
• Darin Hoover, father of SSgt Darin T. Hoover 
• Christy Shamblin, mother-in-law of Sgt Nicole Gee 
• Cheryl Rex, mother of LCpl Dylan Merola
• Steve Nikoui, father of LCpl Kareem Nikoui
• Coral Briseno, mother of Cpl Humberto Sanchez 
• Alicia Lopez, mother of Cpl Hunter Lopez
 
A recording of the forum can be viewed here.

The Issa-led forum was held at the Escondido City Hall near Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base.  The majority of the servicemembers killed in the August 2021 Kabul airport attack were assigned to the 2^nd Battalion, 1^st Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton.

Special appreciation for all the community members in attendance including Escondido Mayor Dane White, Escondido Deputy Mayor Joe Garcia, San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones, Santee Mayor John Minto, Vista Mayor John Franklin, and State Assemblywoman for District 71 Kate Sanchez.
 
Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 48th Congressional District. The District encompasses the central and eastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, Poway, Temecula, Murrieta, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.

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