Editor’s note: American “boots on the ground” are known for doing heroic work in tragic circumstances. The pictures in this photo essay document something of what U.S. soldiers, sailors and airmen are doing to get Americans and others out of Afghanistan. Press reports daily report on how the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force are supporting and facilitating the evacuation efforts. These photos offer documentary evidence. Thanks to Brad Clark, a public information officer at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., and Augusta University alum, for his help in acquiring these images from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
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- Airmen assigned to the 305th Maintenance Group prepare to launch a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Aug. 18, 2021. The 305th AMW is responsible for delivering Rapid Global Mobility to the U.S. and its allies throughout the world. The unit’s C-17 fleet was relocated to support operations in Kabul, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Azaria E. Foster)
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- Service members wait outside of the Personnel Support for Contingency Operations area to process immigrations at an undisclosed location. The members arrived in support of Operation Allies Refuge. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Noah Coger)
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- U.S. Marines engage with kids arriving at an Evacuate Control Center at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Aug. 19. U.S. service members are assisting the Department of State with a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla)
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- U.S. Airman carries a child at an Evacuation Control Checkpoint during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. service members are assisting the Department of State with a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla)
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- U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division stand security at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, August 15. U.S. Soldiers and Marines are assisting the Department of State with an orderly drawdown of designated personnel in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Isaiah Campbell)
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- A Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) provides fresh water to a child during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 20. U.S. service members are assisting the Department of State with an orderly drawdown of designated personnel in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Ruiz).
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- A Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC) plays with children waiting to process during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 20. U.S. service members are assisting the Department of State with an orderly drawdown of designated personnel in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Ruiz).
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- U.S. Marine escorts evacuees to the Evacuation Control Center at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Aug. 19. U.S. service members are assisting the Department of State with a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla)
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- U.S Air Force personnel assigned to the 317th Airlift Squadon, 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, support the Afghanistan withdrawal airlift. The 315th Airlift Wing sent C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft to aid in the withdrawal from Kabul, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by MSgt. Donald R. Allen)
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- U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to Ramstein Air Base set up cots at a hangar on Ramstein Air Base, Germany for Afghan evacuees. Evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening and treatment and more at Ramstein Air Base while preparing for onward movements to their final destinations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Edgar Grimaldo)
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- A U.S. Marine checks a child arriving at an Evacuate Control Center at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Aug. 19. U.S. service members are assisting the Department of State with a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Victor Mancill
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- The Department of Defense is committed to supporting the U.S. State Department in the departure of U.S. and allied civilian personnel from Afghanistan, and to evacuate Afghan allies safely. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Cribelar)
