NARRATIVE FOR BOOK JACKET COVER
On August 26, 2021, at 17:50 local time, a suicide bomber—who had apparently walked right past several Taliban security checkpoints—detonated his vest amid the crowd near the Abbey Gate. Thirteen American service members were killed (11 Marines, 1 soldier, and 1 Navy seaman) while 18 American service personnel were injured, some catastrophically. In addition, according to the Washington Post, at least 170 Afghan civilians were killed, and more than 140 were injured.*
I see an Afghan man enter the pat-down corridor. He is sweating profusely and appears very nervous as well as agitated. His left arm is wrapped around his belly as if he has a stomachache. His right hand is tucked inside his sleeve....The man looks up, sees me moving toward him, and suddenly lifts his eyes toward the sky.
I yell, "BOMB!" trying to get the Marine's attention.
I sprint, planning and picturing a perfect tackle while I secure his right hand, which has now emerged from his sleeve as he shouts, "Allahu Akbar!"
I have heard that when you die, your life flashes before your eyes....
I recall thinking at that moment, "Well, I guess I'm about to find out whether or not that is true."
