Abbey Gate: Marine Officer Details the Devastating Attack | Geoff Ball

On August 26, 2021, Marine Captain Geoff Ball was in command of Ghost Company, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Captain Ball was leading a group of Marines who were trying to manage the throngs of Afghans attempting to escape through the only open entrance to the airport known as "Abbey Gate".

During the evacuation an ISIS-K suicide bomber detonated an explosion that ripped through the crowd and killed some 170 Afghans. 13 American service members would also lose their lives in the attack - nine of which belonged to Ball's company.

In memory of those lost

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza
Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Christian Knauss
Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page
Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario
Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz
Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak

Interview recorded on November 7, 2025

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Video Credits:
Interviewer - Greg Corombos
Editor - Daniel Taksas

Pinnacle | Creative Visual Strategies
DP/Cam Op - Jon Hambacker