1 Hurricane Ida Continues Lashing Louisiana
She may be downgraded to a Category 1, but Hurricane Ida is spreading devastation and the threat of death as it sweeps north across southeastern Louisiana. After coming ashore as a Category 4 storm the storm is still packing damaging winds and triggering dangerous storm surge and flash flooding. At last check, maximum sustained winds were reported at 75 miles per hour. Power is out for all of New Orleans and surrounding communities to the tune of more than one-million people - and overnight, more than 200 people scrambled to get to higher ground after a levee failed in Jefferson Parish, about an hour outside of New Orleans. President Biden has issued a major disaster declaration for more than two-dozen parishes. Perhaps ironically, Ida stomped ashore on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
2 Our Fallen Soldiers Come Home
A solemn scene at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware yesterday as President and First Lady Biden received the remains of the 13 servicemembers killed last Thursday in a suicide bombing at Kabul Airport. "The 13 service members that we lost were heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others," Mr. Biden said in a statement. "Their bravery and selflessness has enabled more than 117,000 people at risk to reach safety thus far." The dead ranged in age from 20 to 31 and include Rylee J. McCollum, a 20-year-old Marine from Wyoming who had been expecting his first child in three weeks. Another – 23-year-old Nicole Gee – posted a photo on Instagram that showed her holding a baby at Kabul airport. In her caption, she noted: "I love my job.” The names were released 24 hours after families of the deceased were notified.
For the Marine Corps, the deceased are:
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover of Salt Lake City, Utah. He was 31. In a statement to CNN, his father described him as "the best son that two parents could ever ask for” adding that he was a "loving, caring, big ole teddy bear. He was always the one to step up and defend the little guy. His heart was as big as can be.”
Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo of Lawrence, Massachusetts. She was 25.
Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee of Sacramento, California. She was 23.
Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez of Indio, California, who was 22. He grew up in Southern California, with both of his parents working for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. He had planned to follow in their footsteps.
Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page of Omaha, Nebraska. He was 23. Enlisting after high school, He was a longtime Boy Scout and his family says "he enjoyed playing hockey for Omaha Westside in the Omaha Hockey Club and was a diehard Chicago Blackhawks fan."
Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez of Logansport, Indiana. He was 22.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza of Rio Bravo, Texas – who was 20.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz of St. Charles, Missouri. He was also 20. His family says his “entire world was the Marine Corps.”
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum of Jackson, Wyoming. As we noted, he was 20 and expecting his first child.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola of Rancho Cucamonga, California. Also 20.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui of Norco, California. Also 20.
For the Navy, the deceased is:
Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak of Berlin Heights, Ohio – who was 22. In his last Facetime call with his mother, he was telling her goodbye and after she told him to be safe, he said “Don't worry mom, my guys got me they won't let anything happen to me.” He and his guys...died together.
For the Army, the deceased is:
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss of Corryton, Tennessee. He was 23 and enlisted right after graduating high school.
3 Pentagon: American Airstrikes Kill Two High Profile ISIS Targets
The Pentagon says two ISIS-K planners were killed and one other terrorist was wounded in a drone strike ordered by President Biden Saturday. Spokesman John Kirby declined to identify the specific targets except to say they were thought to be planning future attacks.
Kirby confirmed the drone strike, which has been condemned by the Taliban, took place in eastern Afghanistan based on information gathered by U.S. intelligence. The drone strike comes after Mr. Biden vowed to retaliate against Thursday's deadly bombings that killed 13 U.S. service members and dozens of others at the Kabul airport. Then this morning? The defense system designed to protect Kabul airport took down as many as five rockets. A U.S. official said the automated system detects incoming rockets and uses a machine gun to destroy them before they can hit their targets. There are no reports of any casualties. Officials say the rockets aimed at the airport were likely launched by ISIS-K, but say it's too early to know for sure.