As names and ages roll in on some of the U.S. service members killed in Kabul, we are reminded how much young men and women in uniform, often in their teens or early 20s, do for our nation.
This is Hospitalman Maxton William Soviak. He was 22 and from Ohio.
He was among the 13 U.S. troops killed in the Kabul bombing.
RIP.
This is Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover. He was 31 and from Utah.
He was among the U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo. She was 25 and from Massachusetts.
She was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui. He was 20 and from California.
He was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum (right). He was 20 and from Wyoming.
He was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee (holding the baby at left). She was 23 and from California.
She was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Marine Lance Cpl. David Espinoza. He was 20 and from Texas.
He was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss. He was 23 and from Tennessee.
He was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez. He was 22 and from California.
He was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola. He was 20 and from California.
He was among the U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Marine Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page. He was 23 and from Nebraska.
He was among the U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz. He was 20 and from Missouri.
He was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
This is Marine Cpl. Humberto Sanchez. He was 22 and from Indiana.
He was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing.
Most of these Americans never knew a nation at peace, as this new story points out.
While many Americans who Iong ago tuned out our wars are shocked to learn of the ages and backgrounds of these fallen service members, they are very much representative of who signs up to defend the nation.
They also fit right with those who died before them in 20 years of conflict.
Men. Women. Mostly young. Some straight out of high school, most likely.
This is our military in a nutshell.
RIP.
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NEW: Among the government work jammed up by the Trump administration's freeze on purchase cards is genealogy research that the Army sees as essential to identify the remains of soldiers who went missing in combat.
Three genealogists told me a similar story:
It's part of a broader issue that has presented challenges to body armor testing and an array of other government services, officials say:
DOGE’s $1 spending card limit touches everything from military research to trash pickup
An Army official said in an email that genealogy efforts already paid for are still underway, and the service has requested an exception to policy to resume payments for other cases. The service sees the work as essential to accurately identifying the remains of U.S. soldiers.
SCOOP: The Hegseth team at the Pentagon invited far-right activist Jack Posobiec on its first overseas trip, alarming numerous defense officials
News of Posobiec’s invitation circulated among U.S. officials in Washington and in Europe ahead of Hegseth’s visit this week to Germany, Belgium and Poland, officials said.
One official said the potential involvement of Posobiec, a Trump booster who is known for peddling conspiracy theories and trolling political adversaries online, has raised questions within the Pentagon about Hegseth’s judgment and what he aimed to communicate to U.S. allies.
NEW TONIGHT: Dozens of American students at a U.S. military installation in Germany walked out of their middle school on Tuesday as part of protests aimed at an official visit by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
More:
The students attend Patch Middle School in Stuttgart, Germany, and peacefully walked out of class for nearly an hour, according to three people familiar with the matter and a letter sent to parents by a school administrator.
Separately, a small group of adults dressed in civilian clothing — likely parents — gathered outside at Stuttgart and protested within view and earshot of Hegseth’s delegation, booing and chanting “DEI!”
“I’m not getting any information from my agency — but I don’t think they’re getting any information, either ... It just feels like they’re bulldozing through this decision.”
One of many military spouses who voiced frustration about Trump's federal workforce crackdown.
As we detail here, military spouses are uniquely affected by the telework crackdown, in particular.
Many sought their positions with full-remote status to accommodate the frequent moves their loved one’s profession demands.
Gen. Mark Milley responds to Biden pardoning him with this statement:
"My family and I are deeply grateful for the President’s action today.
1/x
"After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our Nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights."
2/x
"I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety.
3/x
@iarnsdorf @jdawsey1 After months of disagreements, a group of military families who lost loved ones in a bombing during the U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan gathered on a Zoom call last December.
On the line with them was a 35-year-old Republican operative and Marine Corps veteran who some saw as helpful and others saw as divisive.