Families of 13 U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan say Biden has failed them, but Trump won't forget

Some of the Gold Star family members of the fallen 13 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan gave an emotional tribute at the Republican National Convention, stating that President Joe Biden never said their kids' names out loud, and said former President Trump won't forget them. 

"When Hunter [Lopez] and the other service members' bodies were returned to the U.S. ... Joe Biden met the plane," fallen Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez's father Herman Lopez said at the convention Wednesday. "But he made the occasion more about his son lost to cancer than our sons and daughters lost on his watch."

Biden has repeatedly claimed -- falsely -- that his son Beau was killed in Iraq. 

"Worse than that, he hasn't said their names out loud," Lopez continued. "And during last month's debate, he claimed no service members died during his administration."

The United States withdrew its troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, resulting in the Taliban retaking the country and 13 United States soldiers dying.

The names of the fallen 13 soldiers are Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan Page, Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20 Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Sgt. Nicole Gee, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Navy Hospital man Maxton Soviak and Army Staff St. Ryan Knauss.

Fallen soldier Sgt. Nicole Gee's aunt, Cheryl Jules, also spoke at the convention, saying that while Biden may have forgotten the deaths of the fallen 13, they have not. 

She went on to praise former President Donald Trump, saying he has not forgotten the soldiers, saying "Donald Trump loves this country and will never forget the sacrifice and bravery of our service members. Join us in putting him back in the White House."

At one point, chants broke out among the audience of "Never forget."  The crowd also chanted the names of all 13 service members killed in the withdrawal.

Gee's mother-in-law Christy Shamblin also praised the 45th president, saying Trump recognized the sacrifice of the soldiers. 

“Joe Biden has refused to recognize their sacrifice,” she said. "Donald Trump knew all of our children’s names. He knew all of their stories.”

The third day of the RNC also had different veterans speaking on why they support Trump, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who served in the Air Force.

"The leadership that we need that respects our military and understands the true cost of war is only found in Donald Trump," she said. "He will make America strong again. He will fight for the American war fighter."

She later said that America has to preserve peace by commanding the world's respect.

According to a poll conducted by the Military Times, 52% of veterans said they would back Trump in the 2020 election. A 2009 poll from Gallup showed that military veterans of all ages tend to vote for the GOP. 

Another veteran that spoke was World War II Veteran Sgt. William Pekrul, who threw his support behind Trump. "President Trump back as commander in chief.....I would go back to re-enlist today," he said. 

Earlier, he criticized Biden for the state of the country, specifically on the world stage.

"It hurts my heart to see what our current president and vice president have done to the country I love so well," Pekrul said, referring to Biden.  "As we [get] pushed around by China, terrorists run wild in the Middle East, and they let our own southern border get overrun."

Pekrul concluded his speech by saying he would storm whatever beach his country needed him to and concluded with, "God bless you. God bless our home and the United States of America."