Life and Death at Abbey Gate: The Fall of Afghanistan and the Operation to Save Our Allies

American veterans organized #DigitalDunkirk to evacuate Afghan allies from Afghanistan as the US government withdrew. The veterans used cell phones and satellites to help evacuate as many Afghans as possible, including Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, who worked at Hamid Karzai International Airport's Abbey Gate. The evacuation was chaotic and difficult, with 13 US service members killed by an ISIS suicide bomber. The story highlights the leadership, empty government promises, and convictions of the military to stand by their allies in their time of need.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2023
Publisher: Casemate Publishers

As the American government initiated a catastrophic mass evacuation of its Afghan allies, a group of American veterans foresaw the impending doom—the people who had supported them on the ground for over two decades were destined to be left behind. Instead of remaining spectators, they took swift action. The initiative, known nationally as #DigitalDunkirk, drew inspiration from the civilian evacuation of soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940. As America's presence in Afghanistan reached its tumultuous conclusion, an ad-hoc team of veterans, intelligence assets, and legislative aides embarked on an extraordinary mission to uphold the U.S. battlefield creed, which pledges to leave no comrade behind.

Utilizing cell phones and satellites as their primary tools, they toiled tirelessly around the clock to assist in evacuating as many Afghans who had allied with U.S. troops over the past twenty years as feasible. Amidst the desperate mass of Afghans attempting to flee the ruthless Taliban regime, Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, worked at Hamid Karzai International Airport's Abbey Gate in conditions that evoked tears from combat-hardened veterans. Tragedy struck when an ISIS suicide bomber detonated his S-vest, resulting in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members. Operations came to a halt.

Told through the perspectives of Mikael, his Afghan friend Abdul, and the 2/1 Marines on the ground, including a Marine squad leader who personally led the Afghans through the airport, Life and Death at Abbey Gate unveils the untold story behind the mass evacuation of over 124,000 Americans and Afghan allies during a two-week period in the summer of 2021. This is a significant narrative that demands the attention of all Americans. It encompasses a tale period of leadership, broken government promises, and the unwavering commitment of our military to stand by our allies in their time of need.

Weight: 282g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781636243962