At the Republican National Convention, Gold Star family members of the 13 U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan gave a heartfelt tribute, criticizing President Joe Biden for not acknowledging their children by name and praising former President Donald Trump for his remembrance.
Herman Lopez, father of fallen Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, recounted that when the bodies of the service members were returned, President Biden focused more on his own son, Beau Biden, who died of cancer, rather than the soldiers lost during his administration. Lopez pointed out that Biden has falsely claimed his son was killed in Iraq and has failed to mention the names of the fallen 13 soldiers publicly. He also noted that Biden denied any service members had died during his administration in a recent debate.
The U.S. military's withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 led to the Taliban's resurgence and the deaths of 13 U.S. soldiers. The names of these soldiers include Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan Page, Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Sgt. Nicole Gee, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Navy Hospitalman Maxton Soviak, and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss.
Cheryl Jules, aunt of Sgt. Nicole Gee, emphasized that while Biden might have forgotten, the families have not, and she lauded Trump for his commitment to the soldiers' memories. The convention saw chants of "Never forget" and the names of the fallen soldiers.
Christy Shamblin, mother-in-law of Sgt. Nicole Gee, also praised Trump, asserting he knew all the soldiers' names and stories, a sentiment echoed by other speakers, including veterans like Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and WWII Veteran Sgt. William Pekrul. They criticized Biden's administration for its handling of military and foreign policy, highlighting Trump's respect and understanding of the military's sacrifices.
According to a Military Times poll, 52% of veterans supported Trump in the 2020 election, and historically, military veterans tend to vote for the GOP, as shown by a 2009 Gallup poll.
