On August 26th, 2021, thirteen United States service members gave the last full measure of devotion in order to safeguard the lives of American civilians in a hostile country. These brave men and women died from a suicide attack during the chaotic American retreat from Afghanistan.

• Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas
• Sergeant Nicole Gee, 23, of Roseville, California
• Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah
• Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss, 23, of Knoxville, Tennessee,
• Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum, 20, of Bondurant, Wyoming
• Corporal Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California
• Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
• Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California
• Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
• Corporal Humberto Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana
• Corporal Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska

Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri Seaman Maxton “Max” Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio

On 14 February, 2022, Russia invaded our ally, Ukraine. It was first land war in Europe since World War Two. It is estimated that some 15,000 Ukrainian civilians and 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed. Russian fatalities are estimated to be more than 315,000 dead.

On October 7th, 2023, some 1200 Jews were massacred by Hamas terrorists who were funded by Iran. Almost 250 more civilians were taken hostage, and countless more were raped. It was the worst single day loss of Jewish life since World War Two.

Since that date, United States service members have been attacked over 160 times by Iranian-backed terrorist groups. Hundreds of service members were wounded, many with traumatic brain injuries.

On the night of the 20th of November, 2023, a British transport ship was seized by Iranian-based Houthi pirates. Overall, the Houthi’s have attacked more than 30 civilian transport ships in and around the Red Sea. As a result, many ships are now traveling the long way around Africa, adding some 26 days and countless millions of gallons of gas to their voyage.

On the night of the 21st of January, 2024, two Navy Seals were lost at sea during the boarding of a ship carrying lethal ballistic missiles being illegally transported to Iranian-backed terrorists.

Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Chambers, 37, of Westfield, Massachusetts

Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 27, of Trophy Club, Texas.

On the 24th of January, 2024, the US Navy intercepted two missiles that Houthi pirates shot at a US transport vessel. Weeks later, the USS Gravely was nearly hit by a cruise missile fired by Iranian-backed Houthi pirates.

On the night of the 28th of January, 2024, three Army soldiers at US OUTPOST TOWER were murdered in their sleep by Iranian-backed terrorist drone attack. All 3 of brave these soldiers were from Georgia.

• Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrolton, GA
• Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, GA
• Sgt. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, GA

“The brave die never, though they sleep in dust.

Their courage nerves a thousand living men.”

It is fitting that we remember.