As the United States commemorates the second anniversary of its withdrawal from Afghanistan, Gold Star families who lost loved ones in action are urging elected officials for transparency about the past and accountability for the future.
President Joe Biden has faced significant criticism, particularly from Republicans, for the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. During a roundtable discussion hosted by the GOP-led House Foreign Affairs Committee in August, Gold Star families who lost loved ones in the Afghanistan withdrawal called on Biden and his administration to provide answers regarding the circumstances of their loved ones' deaths.
Kelly Barnett, the mother of Marine Staff Sgt. Darin “Taylor” Hoover, who was among the 13 service members killed in a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate outside Kabul’s airport, described the withdrawal as an "orchestrated nightmare" and demanded transparency. She stated, "I don't want to hear excuses."
Coral Briseno, the mother of Marine Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, another service member who lost his life in the same attack, emphasized the need for accountability. She urged the administration to apologize for the decisions that led to the tragic deaths of their children and stressed the importance of demanding the truth.
These Gold Star families are united in their quest for answers and closure, seeking to hold those responsible accountable for the events surrounding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
