Washington Reporter

Washington Reporter

Share this post

Washington Reporter
Washington Reporter
Op-ed: Maj. Derrick Anderson: Remembering the heroes of Afghanistan
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
User's avatar
Discover more from Washington Reporter
The intersection of policy and politics, with valuable insights straight from Hill staff and D.C. insiders.
Already have an account? Sign in
Editorials

Op-ed: Maj. Derrick Anderson: Remembering the heroes of Afghanistan

The Washington Reporter's avatar
The Washington Reporter
Sep 03, 2024

Share this post

Washington Reporter
Washington Reporter
Op-ed: Maj. Derrick Anderson: Remembering the heroes of Afghanistan
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share
Washington Reporter

Almost three years ago, in the midst of a shocking foreign policy failure, 13 American servicemembers were killed in action and many were wounded during the Abbey Gate terrorist attack, which occurred in the midst of the chaos of President Joe Biden’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

It was the deadliest attack on Americans in Afghanistan since 2011, and it shouldn’t have happened.

Today, I’m remembering these brave heroes who gave “the last full measure of devotion” to protect our country.

They were:

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas.

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, of Roseville, California.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, 31, of Utah.

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.

Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, Jackson, Wyoming.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California.

Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska

Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario, 25, Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, Logansport, Indiana.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Missouri.

Navy Hospital Corpsman Max Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

I’m also thinking about leadership — and the lack of it — today. There’s no question that the Biden-Harris administration’s failure to manage the situation in Afghanistan led to the Abbey Gate attack.

The conditions for the attack were created by the chaotic situation on the ground during the American withdrawal.

The bomber was an ISIS operative who was freed from prison by the Taliban.

The crowd — and therefore our servicemembers — was at Abbey Gate because of the withdrawal. 

And there have been no consequences within the Biden administration for this failure. 

That’s not how it should be. A failure of this magnitude deserves acknowledgement, a change in direction, and accountability.

I can say this for so many of my fellow Afghanistan veterans: The aftermath of that day, and of our terribly botched withdrawal, lives on among all of us. 

My time in Afghanistan was a fight. It was not a cakewalk. 

Seeing what we saw in Kabul on the anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover — the Taliban marching down the streets of Kabul with our military weapons, our equipment, our aircraft, millions of dollars of equipment that was left over there — really brings back the anger, sadness, and a deep sense of frustration with the political leaders who failed us badly.

I think most Afghanistan veterans would agree with me. When we were there, we saw the threat that had grown to a point where it attacked our homeland, but we also saw the potential for the country if politicians like Joe Biden didn’t mess it up.

And what we saw and hoped for didn’t come to pass. Politicians like Joe Biden absolutely messed it up, and countless good people are paying for that mistake right now.

I’m remembering our brave troops, and I’m thinking about how we avoid disasters like this in the future: it starts with leadership and accountability.

It starts with Americans expecting the opposite of how the Biden-Harris administration reacted to their failure. Let’s put political parties aside, and put this country first.

That’s the kind of change this country needs.

Derrick Anderson is running for Congress in Virginia’s 7th District — his home district. He served as a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and as a member of the U.S. Army Old Guard. He grew up washing dishes and mopping floors in his mother’s restaurants around the Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg area. His website is DerrickAnderson.com


Subscribe to Washington Reporter

The intersection of policy and politics, with valuable insights straight from Hill staff and D.C. insiders.

Share this post

Washington Reporter
Washington Reporter
Op-ed: Maj. Derrick Anderson: Remembering the heroes of Afghanistan
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Why the Biden Pill Penalty has been a disaster for Americans
A misguided policy enacted by former President Joe Biden has led to a 70 percent decline in investment in small-molecule drugs in the United States…
Mar 20 • 
The Washington Reporter
3

Share this post

Washington Reporter
Washington Reporter
Why the Biden Pill Penalty has been a disaster for Americans
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
EXCLUSIVE: Multiple career intelligence staff confirm Biden admin DNI Avril Haines used Signal "all the time and on her personal phone"
Biden administration Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines used Signal “all the time and on her personal phone,” according to multiple…
Apr 3 • 
Matthew Foldi
11

Share this post

Washington Reporter
Washington Reporter
EXCLUSIVE: Multiple career intelligence staff confirm Biden admin DNI Avril Haines used Signal "all the time and on her personal phone"
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
K-STREET, 10,000 FEET: Sen. Tillis and others warn: Durbin’s Credit Card Competition Act sinks GENIUS
The GENIUS Act is a bipartisan legislative effort aimed at establishing a comprehensive framework for stablecoin regulation, but congressional sources…
May 20 • 
The Washington Reporter
1

Share this post

Washington Reporter
Washington Reporter
K-STREET, 10,000 FEET: Sen. Tillis and others warn: Durbin’s Credit Card Competition Act sinks GENIUS
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Ready for more?

© 2025 Washington Reporter
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Create your profile

User's avatar

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.