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US Marine’s heartbreaking final Instagram post shows her caring for Afghan children before being killed
Published 15:40 31 Aug 2021 BST
Updated 15:40 31 Aug 2021 BST
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The marine was one of 13 US military personnel killed in the Kabul attack
A US marine who was killed in the suicide bombing at Kabul airport shared a social media post showing her caring for Afghan children just days before her death. Nicole Gee was among 13 American military personnel killed in the bomb attack at Kabul airport on August 26, which is now thought to have killed at least 170 people in total, including two Brits. Of the US servicemen and women killed, 11 were marines and all but one were under the age of 30. The 23-year-old maintenance technician from California had joined the Marines in 2017, according to CBS News, and just days before the bombing had shared a picture on Instagram of her caring for Afghan children, with the caption "I love my job." At the time of writing this article, the post has received almost 180,000 likes. The comments were full of tributes to the marine. https://www.instagram.com/p/CS0LAGFh35Y/?utm_source=ig_embed In a tribute shared on Facebook, the city of Roseville government said: "Our nation lost 13 U.S. service members this week in the bombing attack at the Kabul airport. One of those is our hometown hero, Roseville native and Marine Sergeant Nicole (Herrera) Gee, 23. "Nicole was a 2016 Oakmont High School graduate who enlisted in the Marines a year after she graduated. Her husband, Jarod Gee, is also an Oakmont graduate and Marine."Her death comes at a time when our country feels fractured, yet we must come together to honor those who serve and protect our freedoms."
https://www.facebook.com/cityofroseville/posts/10158451307006848 Gee had only been sworn in as a marine less than a year ago and was promoted to sergeant just three weeks before the Kabul attack. Related links: Marine killed in Kabul suicide bomb was due to become dad in three weeks British taxi driver among those killed in Kabul airport attack Kirstie Allsopp brands Pen Farthing’s Afghanistan pet rescue a ‘betrayal’ In an emotional post, one of Gee's friends shared a touching tribute. Mallory Harrison wrote: "Her car is parked in our lot. It's so mundane. Simple. But it's there."My very best friend, my person, my sister forever. My other half. We were boots together, Corporals together, & then Sergeants together. Roommates for over 3 years now, from the barracks at MOS school to our house here.
"We've been attached at the hip from the beginning. I can't quite describe the feeling I get when I force myself to come back to reality & think about how I’m never going to see her again.
"How her last breath was taken doing what she loved—helping people—at HKIA in Afghanistan. Then there was an explosion. And just like that, she’s gone."
https://www.facebook.com/mallory.harrison.334/posts/3014401822128690 American forces had been at Kabul airport overseeing the evacuation effort as thousands of Afghans attempted to flee the country following the Taliban takeover of the capital. The suicide bomb attack happened on Thursday, just days before the US was due to end its presence at the airport. US and British forces have now left the airport, leaving it and the city of Kabul entirely in the hands of the Taliban.Explore more on these topics:
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