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--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: This episode is brought to you by LifeLock. Between two-factor authentication, strong passwords, and a VPN, you try to be in control of how your info is protected. But many other places also have it, and they might not be as careful. That's why LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it. Guaranteed or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit LifeLock.com slash podcast for 40% off. Terms apply.
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--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: On August 26th, 2021, a little before 6 p.m. local time, a blast from a suicide bomb outside Abbey Gate in Kabul killed at least 182 people, including 169 Afghan civilians and 13 members of the United States military. In this Veterans Day episode, we speak to Gold Star family members about that day, their sacrifice, and what makes them hopeful about America's future.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley. It's Sunday, November 10th, and this is Morning Wire. With Trump in, we can finally exhale. But the fact of the matter is, our nation is broke, and that debt is a house of cards that can't quickly be dismantled. The strategy remains the same. Diversify your savings with Birch Gold. They'll help you convert an IRA or 401k into an IRA in physical gold. Now through Black Friday, get a free one ounce Silver Eagle for every $5,000 purchased. Text WIRE to 989898 to get your free comprehensive info kit on gold investing. Trust Birch Gold as I do to protect your savings and secure your financial future. Again, text WIRE to 989898 today.
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--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Joining me now is Alicia Lopez. Alicia lost her son, Captain Hunter Lopez, on August 26th, three years ago.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Thank you so much, I appreciate it.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Becoming a Gold Star family member, that's both an honor but also a tremendous loss. Most people are never going to fully understand what you've been through. Can you just tell us what that experience is like?
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Becoming a Gold Star family is not a group that anybody chooses to be a part of. But unfortunately, with all the wars that go on, it's bound to happen and there's bound to be Gold Star families out there. I take it as a responsibility to have to tell my son's story and try to get the government and the people that are in charge of our men and women in the military to learn from mistakes that occur so that it doesn't occur again and so that we don't have more Gold Star families.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Now, for listeners, they have a little bit of background about your son's story, but Would you share what happened?
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Yes. On August 26, 2021, my son, along with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, were at the Abbey Gate in Kabul, Afghanistan. They had received warnings of a possible bomber, possible ID from a vehicle, possible retaliation from the Taliban. And they continued to screen people and to save Americans and allies and interpreters and try to get them across that gate before the gate actually closed.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: We hadn't spoken to Hunter probably about a day before the actual incident. When we did speak with him, he told us about the horrific scenes that were being played out, the men and women and the children that were being exposed to conditions that were not suited for even an animal. However, there was a bombing and it took the lives of our 13 kids and injured hundreds of Marines.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: I'm sorry.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Take your time.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Now, you decided to campaign for President Trump. What was it about his message that you felt resonated with your mission that you described earlier?
--:-- Alicia Lopez: We didn't set out to campaign for President Trump. When my son passed away three years ago, our family was very silent in what happened in the request that we had asked the president. So we had been asked to do several interviews about how we felt about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and their decisions that they made that caused our children's deaths.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: We, as a family, had decided that we wouldn't speak on the matter till we gave the administration ample time and ability to come and tell us what actually happened to our son. Fast forward two years and we had received a report that was incomplete and hiding things from us from all the families.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: It went on as far as to tell the Marines that were there and that had told their story that their accounts of the incident were incorrect and they were told that they couldn't remember exactly what happened because of the traumatic brain injuries that they had received during the bombing.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: We again continued to push forward and try to get answers and the door was shut on our face and we weren't giving any answers other than what was written in this report.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Within those two years, we had a Gold Star parent that lives in Utah, and he met the attorney general out there from Utah, and they began to discuss trying to find ways to get into Congress and to try to get them to reopen up the investigation of our children's With their help, we were able to get our first meeting into Congress and we were able to push several congressmen to open up an investigation.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: And that's when they started to interview most of the Marines again and try to find answers. within that time frame, President Trump had reached out to us and essentially told us that he is very sorry that what had happened to our child and that he would essentially do anything in his power to try to get the truth for us.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: That's when we decided that this man had come forward and spoken to us and essentially told us that he would find the answers or get the answers to what happened to our children and was the only president that ever reached out.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Joe Biden had spoken to me at the dignified transfer and he didn't even have the decency to get my name correct. we had asked the White House several times for them to meet with some of the families and they never responded to that.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: So here we have an opportunity to speak one-on-one with President Trump and we took it and it's hard to explain the meat that you have especially when it comes to somebody in his, you know, being the president and being so busy, right, with everything that was being thrown at him and for him to actually take the time to listen to us and to hear our stories and to remember them down the road was impressive to me and also spoke a lot about his character.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: And so that brought you to this past summer speaking at the RNC. A lot of People shared that they felt that the Gold Star families that spoke at the RNC were the most powerful speakers.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Are you hopeful now going forward with a Trump administration?
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Yeah, absolutely. My family is a family of service. Both my husband and I work for the sheriff's department. I have a son currently serving in the Army. Hunter obviously lost his life serving.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: So when this presidency came up and we knew how Kamala Harris and Joe Biden had let my son down and had let the other 12 children down with their decision making, I knew that if they were to remain in office for an additional four years, that the possibility of getting another knock on my door was very high.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Um, so we decided to speak at the RNC not only for my son but for my son that was currently serving and for all the sons and daughters out there so that their parents don't have to go through that it's it's scary that you're not able to protect your child and when they sign up into the military, you leave that protection to the government.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: And when they don't do a job, a good job at that, just makes you wonder what people think of the military.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Well, Alicia, thank you so much for coming on and taking the time to speak with our listeners. Our listener base is extremely supportive of military families like yours. So they are really going to appreciate your story.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Thank you. I try to do it without crying, but it's hard, you know?
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: We pushed to get President Trump elected because of all the sons and daughters that are currently serving. And this current administration could care less what happens to them.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: I guess I was relieved that my son although he trains for war the chances of him going to war are a little less now
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Well Alicia thank you so much I understand it must be extremely emotional to discuss these things. So we are so appreciative that you took the time.
--:-- Alicia Lopez: Well, thank you so much. And thank you to the listeners for listening to a mom.
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--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: We also spoke to Christy Shamblin. Christy lost her daughter-in-law, Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee. Shamblin now speaks on behalf of Gee's mother, who passed away in 2019.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: Thank you so much for having me, and I appreciate that very much.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Now, tell us a little bit about your daughter-in-law, Nicole's story.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: My son and daughter-in-law were an active duty Marine Corps couple in North Carolina, stationed at Lejeune, and she deployed. He did not. And in a way, I can only see that God saw fit to work in my life. I was with him the day he was notified that she was killed in action.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: And it started, you know, a two-month whirlwind of what that experience is. And unfortunately, her mama had passed away in 2019. So she didn't have, you know, somebody to speak for her in that capacity. And I'm happy to do that.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: In life, Nicole was a spirit of positive mental attitude. She really, truly believed in being positive and putting forth, you know, your best effort every single day. And I'm just trying to do that in her spirit and getting our leadership and our politicians to make sure that our men and women in uniform are safer.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: Now, you mentioned at the top that you're very hopeful that there will be fewer families who have to go through this with a Trump presidency. and you also actively campaigned for President Trump and ended up speaking at the RNC.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: Tell us a little bit about your decision to support President Trump. What was it about his message that made you feel like he was the best commander in chief to protect our military?
--:-- Christy Shamblin: It's come as a surprise to me to be, you know, campaigning for President Trump. Meeting him in, gosh, it's almost been two years ago now. We met with him as a group. We have a group of parents. We've called ourselves the Abbeygate Coalition, and we're actively trying to make changes so that our military is safer.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: He asked if we'd like to come meet with him when he heard that the White House had not responded to our request for a meeting. And we did meet with him. You know, we went in with really no expectations and walked away just being wowed by the empathy and willingness to listen to our concerns and share in a problem-solving path forward.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: And it was a it was a shock. And he's just been he's continued to do that. You know, we have had communication with him and his team, of course, and the empathy that he feels for all of our men and women in uniform has really been felt for our family.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: Now, were you involved in politics prior to this or was it just that day that got you thinking about it?
--:-- Christy Shamblin: No, it was that day. You know, I had been to Washington a few times when they had hearings and things. I would go and sit in the hearings just to, you know, get information. I was just interested in information at that time.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: And there's just not a lot of people in Washington who have the time for common everyday people, I feel like. And I wasn't able to get a lot of attention, but the people that did were veterans. And it was very encouraging to me.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: So I know that we have good people there. There are more coming in, and I couldn't be more excited with that.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Is your son still active duty?
--:-- Christy Shamblin: No, ma'am. He is medically hired and using his VA benefits in school right now.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Well, last question for you. The theme of Veterans Day in 2024 is centered on a legacy of loyalty and service. Does that feel like it resonates with you and your family?
--:-- Christy Shamblin: Absolutely. All of our armed services are just have my heart. I did not serve myself. It's been my children. And to watch the community they share in their Marines. But I feel like all services have that camaraderie. And they are a proud and loyal group of people and group of Americans.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: And they deserve our respect and honor. Veterans Day is always a great reminder of that. And I hope that people can remember that on Veterans Day.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Well, I'll just let you know, our audience is very supportive of veterans and of military families, and they really are going to be appreciative of you taking the time to share your story. Thank you so much.
--:-- Christy Shamblin: I appreciate that. Thank you very much.
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--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Lastly, I spoke to Steve Nakui, father of fallen Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nakui. Steve Nakui was arrested by Capitol Police, but later released in March of this year for interrupting President Biden's State of the Union speech when the president failed to acknowledge the men and women who died on his watch in Afghanistan.
--:-- Steve Nakui: Thank you so much for having me on. And thank you for acknowledging Kareem's sacrifice and service.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Now, first off, tell us a little bit about what the experience is like losing your child in action?
--:-- Steve Nakui: You know, obviously losing your child is rough for everyone. It happens to hundreds of people, thousands of people every day. But to lose them in the capacity that we lost our kids in is extremely different.
--:-- Steve Nakui: In a high-profile event where the administration of the United States government failed to properly execute the evacuation in which, you know, our kids were lost. That's one thing. And then to have to fight to have your kids' honor and sacrifice recognized by that same administration for the next three years, that is like pulling the scab off of the wound, you know, almost every day.
--:-- Steve Nakui: So initially it was devastating because of, you know, the horrible news and everything that came with it. But then after trying to get the honor and sacrifice for our kids the years following, the three years following, that was also excruciating.
--:-- Steve Nakui: Now, I understand there was very little information initially about what happened that day. But what do you now know about the day Kareem died?
--:-- Steve Nakui: Yeah, so he was one of the 13 that was killed at the Abbey Gate. He was actually standing right next to Riley McCollum, one of his best friends. They were both on the wall and directly across from the bomber.
--:-- Steve Nakui: So, I mean, talk about the blunt of the last. Him and Riley were the ones that really took it because they were right across from him.
--:-- Steve Nakui: You know, my son was a born-again Christian. He felt that he was doing God's work there. And, you know, all those kids and everyone that was there was there because they felt like they were doing something for mankind, doing something greater than themselves.
--:-- Steve Nakui: And that's what drove them to go out there every day and to do it.
--:-- Steve Nakui: Now, you famously interrupted President Biden's State of the Union speech this year. That was almost three years after your son's death. What moved you to do that?
--:-- Steve Nakui: Well, you know, it's been my understanding I've seen in the past that when something like this would happen, that they would have been honored in the very first state of the union. And that didn't happen.
--:-- Steve Nakui: You know, President Biden chose to honor his son and his son's sacrifice instead. And for watching three years, all these State of the Unions where he never mentions our kids' names, I was just, you know, the Holy Spirit convicted me to stand up and say my son's name and his rank, you know, at that State of the Union.
--:-- Steve Nakui: Now, in light of this most recent election that we just came out of a few days ago, are you feeling hopeful? How are you feeling now?
--:-- Steve Nakui: I am so glad. I mean, obviously nothing's going to bring our kids back, but I can almost guarantee that these same circumstances won't happen to anyone else for the next four years.
--:-- Steve Nakui: And that's something that I'm very honored that I was there to help to in whatever capacity it was, however minor or minuscule it was that, you know, this type of event and this catastrophe won't happen again.
--:-- Steve Nakui: So the theme for Veterans Day this year, 2024, is a legacy of loyalty and service. So does that resonate with you and your family this year?
--:-- Steve Nakui: Yeah, not so much the legacy, but the service part. You know, I'm hoping that, you know, more kids will join the armed services. We have the all-time low right now of kids enlisting.
--:-- Steve Nakui: And I hope with, you know, Donald J. Trump being president, that will be overcome and a lot more kids will defend our nation, you know, give their sacrifice and service to this country.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Well, that's very powerful. I mean, just coming from someone who's lost a child that you are still encouraging people to step into that situation.
--:-- Steve Nakui: Yeah, I appreciate that. Well, someone has to do it, right? We don't want to force our kids to. It's a volunteer military. So we would like to keep that.
--:-- Steve Nakui: And in order for kids to do it, to honor that, you know, they have to feel like, hey, I'm going to be taken care of and I'm going to be safe. And their parents as well, right?
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Well, Steve, thank you so much for making time for us and just really appreciate your story.
--:-- Steve Nakui: Thank you, guys. God bless you so much. Thank you.
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--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: That was Steve Nakui, father of fallen Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nakui. Earlier, we heard from Alicia Lopez, mother of fallen Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez, and Christy Shamblin, mother-in-law of fallen Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: If you're interested in more veteran content, we have a link in the description to one of our highest rated episodes of all time, which includes interviews with some of the last living World War II veterans.
--:-- Host: Georgia Howe: Thank you all for tuning in. I'm Georgia Howe, and this has been a Sunday edition of Morning Wire. Thank you.
