Gold Star father Mark Schmitz blasts John Kirby's response to Afghanistan withdrawal

Gold Star father Mark Schmitz, who lost his son Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz during the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan, slammed John Kirby on Monday for his previous comments that there was "no chaos" during the U.S.'s withdrawal from Afghanistan. 

Thirteen United States service members lost their lives during the withdrawal on Aug. 26, 2021, when a bomb went off outside of the Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. 

Kirby, who was the Pentagon's press secretary at the time, claimed there was "no chaos" in Afghanistan during the withdrawal despite emails from people on the ground who told him otherwise.

"John Kirby is as useful as a lifeguard who's not facing the pool," Schmitz said on the "Just The News, No Noise" TV show. "You can't make comments like that when people can see it with their own eyes. We've got a coalition of families out of the 13 that have ... started this fight, and we're not going to quit ... We are going to be a thorn in the side of anybody who gets in the way of us getting our our answers."

He continued: "One of our recent conversations with [former] President [Donald] Trump, he vows to demand certain resignations, and there's been way too many promotions for people that should have been fired in the first place. I'm sure those people will be on that list. And who knows, maybe Kirby too."

Just the News has reached out to the White House for comment.

Schmitz spoke on the third anniversary of the withdrawal. President Joe Biden released a statement honoring the 13 service members. 

"These 13 Americans—and the many more that were wounded—were patriots in the highest sense," Biden said in his statement. "All raised their hand to serve a cause greater than themselves—risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, Allies, and Afghan partners. They embodied the very best of who we are as a nation: brave, committed, selfless. And we owe them and their families a sacred debt we will never be able to fully repay, but will never cease working to fulfill."

Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery the same day. 

The 13 service members have been identified as: Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak, Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.