The Last American Soldier leaves Afghanistan

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Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, becomes the last American Soldier to leave Afghanistan. This comes when the U.S. concluded its 20-year war in Afghanistan. 

Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, becomes the last American Soldier to leave Afghanistan. This comes when the U.S. concluded its 20-year war in Afghanistan.

Major Gen. Chris Donahue

According to General Kenneth F. McKenzie, the commander of the U.S. Central Command,  the last U.S. aircraft left Kabul Airport, Afghanistan on August 30 at 3:29 p.m. ET, or 11:59 p.m. in Kabul. 

The U.S. Defense Department, via its communications wing has released a photo of Gen. Donahue boarding a C-17 cargo plane at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. 

Gen. Donahue and the U.S. Forces Afghanistan Forward commander Rear Admiral Peter Vasely ran the evacuation operation from August 14 to August 31, and evacuated at least 122,000 individuals (U.S. citizens, Afghan citizens and other foreigners). 

The US departure marks the end of a chaotic and bloody exit from the United States' longest war.

"I'm here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the end of the military mission to evacuate American citizens, third country nationals, and vulnerable Afghans. 

The last C-17 lifted off from Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 30th, this afternoon, at 3:29 p.m. East Coast time, and the last manned aircraft is now clearing the airspace above Afghanistan." Gen. Mackenzie told reporters on monday outside the Pentagon. 

President Biden said he would address Americans on Tuesday about the decision not to extend the U.S. mission past the deadline, even though some Americans and at-risk Afghans were not evacuated.

U.S. President Joe Biden

The U.S. entered Afghanistan shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Atleast 2,461 U.S. service members were killed in the 20-year war, and last Thursday marked the bloodiest day for American troops in a decade when 13 U.S. service members were killed in an ISIS-K suicide bombing at Karzai International airport, Kabul. 

Before the last U.S. troops left Afghanistan, they demilitarized the military equipment left behind, including dozens of military vehicles and aircraft. 

In a statement on Monday, Defense Secretary Lloud Austin said, "Americans must remember the citizens whom we serve and the nation that we defend.

Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin

For my part, I am proud of the part that we played in this war. I'm proud of the men and women who led me. I am proud of those with whom I served and led. And I am proud of the intrepid, resilient families who made what we did possible." 

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