Bidens Meet With Families of Fallen U.S. Service Members After Deadly Attack in Kabul

President Joe Biden attends the dignified transfer of the remains of fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, August, 29, 2021.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
  • President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden traveled Sunday to Dover Air Force Base to view the dignified transfer of the remains of the U.S. service members killed in Kabul.
  • A dignified transfer is conducted for every U.S. service member killed in action.
  • Sunday's solemn movement marks Biden's first time attending a dignified transfer since becoming president.
  • The Pentagon on Saturday released the names of the 13 U.S. service members killed as the result of a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden traveled Sunday to Dover Air Force Base to view the dignified transfer of the remains of the U.S. service members killed in Kabul last week.

A dignified transfer is a solemn process in which the remains of fallen service members are carried from an aircraft to an awaiting vehicle. A dignified transfer is conducted for every U.S. service member killed in action.

The Pentagon on Saturday released the names of the 13 U.S. service members killed as the result of a suicide bomber attack while conducting a humanitarian evacuation mission in Afghanistan. The remains were flown from Kabul to Kuwait and then to Germany before arriving in Dover.

The president and first lady met privately with the families of the fallen before observing the movement of the American flag-draped cases from a C-17 military cargo plane to a vehicle.

Sunday's solemn movement marks Biden's first time attending a dignified transfer since becoming president.

President Joe Biden and other officials, attend the dignified transfer of the remains of fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, August, 29, 2021, after 13 members of the US military were killed in Afghanistan last week.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
President Joe Biden and other officials, attend the dignified transfer of the remains of fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, August, 29, 2021, after 13 members of the US military were killed in Afghanistan last week.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley also attended the dignified transfer, along with U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday and U.S. Air Force Col. Chip Hollinger, who oversaw the military logistics of the movement.

The August 26 attack near the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport, which killed 11 Marines, one Navy sailor and one Army soldier, is under investigation.

The fallen include:

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah

Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California

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

Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska

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

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

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri

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

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

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

Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio

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

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