First lady Jill Biden joined the president at Dover Air Force Base to grieve with loved ones as the “dignified transfer” of remains unfolded, a military ritual for those killed in foreign combat.
They were between 20 and 31 years old and originated from California, Massachusetts, and other states. There was a Wyoming Marine Corpsman, 20, who was expecting his first child within three weeks. A 22-year old Navy corpsman, who assured his mother via FaceTime that he would be safe because “my guys got him.”
Five of the 20 were born just a few years before the Sept. 11 attacks 2001 that prompted the United States and other countries to invade Afghanistan to overthrow al-Qaida, dismantle the Taliban leaders in the country.
The 13 young servicemen were killed while on the ground to assist in the U.S. coda for its longest war. They also assisted in a chaotic evacuation of Americans as well as Afghans who had helped the U.S. war effort.
Biden stated Saturday that the 13 servicemen he lost were heroes who gave their lives for the highest American ideals, while also saving the lives of others. “Their courage and selflessness have enabled more than 117,000 people at high risk to reach safety so far.”
Biden held his hands over his heart, appearing to close his eyes in prayer while each flag-draped transfer case were taken off a military aircraft.
Families of fallen soldiers often travel to Dover in order to see their loved ones’ remains returned to America. The attack on Thursday left so many victims that the Dover Fisher House, which is run by the Defense Department, could not accommodate all grieving families. So some loved ones were allowed to stay off base.
Only the silent commands of honor guards carrying the transfer cases, the hum from the C-17 Globemaster II aircraft transporting the fallen and occasional sobs of grieving mourners could be heard on the flightline.
Biden was joined at the event by several of his top aides including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley. Eleven families of fallen service personnel opted to allow media coverage to cover their transfers.
These dignified transfers were attended by Biden’s three previous predecessors as presidents. Although it was Biden’s first participation as president, he had been there before.
Biden attended a respectful transfer to honor two U.S. soldiers who were killed in a suicide attack at Bagram Airfield during his final months as vice president in 2016. Biden attended a dignified transfer for two U.S. soldiers who were killed in a suicide bombing at Bagram Airfield in August 2016. This was while he was a senator. Biden stated to CBS’ Face the Nation that he needed permission from the Pentagon in order to attend the transfer.
The U.S. military killed 13 soldiers in Kabul on February 20, 2020, making them the first American service personnel to die in Afghanistan. The Trump administration made an agreement with Taliban to stop attacks on Americans and to give the U.S. a commitment to withdraw all American troops and contractors from Afghanistan by May 2021. Biden declared in April that all American forces would be out of the country by September.
One of the thirteen Americans who were killed was a Marine. One of the victims was a Navy sailor, and one was an Army soldier.
