This short article is component of a WHD News Electronic series examining the implications of the U.S. army withdrawal from Afghanistan 1 yr back this 7 days.

NORCO, Calif. — Shana Chappell woke up crying.

"I felt genuinely uneasy, but I considered it was just in my head," she explained to WHD News.

Chappell assumed she required to distinct her head, so she took a Maritime flag her son, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, remaining at residence when on deployment. She connected it to her truck and drove all around.

THESE ARE THE US Support Members KILLED IN THE KABUL AIRPORT Attack

Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui was just one of the 13 American heroes killed in the August 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport all through the United States' evacuation of Afghanistan. (Courtesy Nikoui's household)

But then she acquired property and commenced scrolling Instagram. That is how she learned there'd been an explosion at the Kabul airport.

"I recognized the track record photo from a video clip Kareem experienced despatched me a couple hrs prior," Chappell advised WHD News. "I instantly began texting Kareem and asking him to be sure to textual content me, to enable me know he was all proper."

Nikoui, 20, was amid the 13 U.S. service associates killed on Aug. 26, 2021, at Hamid Karzai Worldwide Airport throughout the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The blast also killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and injured additional than 150 some others. 

‘Our nation is worth battling for’

Nikoui was outgoing as a little one.

"He wished to be everybody's mate," Chappell instructed WHD News.

An athlete, Nikoui performed football, soccer and baseball. When he obtained older, he bought into boxing, kickboxing, MMA and even turned a jiujutsu winner.

But ever because he was a toddler, he wanted to become a Maritime.

"We went to the mall, and there had been essentially some Marines there in their gown blues," Chappell instructed WHD News. "From then on, Kareem’s minimal army guys he experienced at house turned Marines."

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Nikoui required to turn into a Marine at any time since he was a toddler, his mother, Shana Chapell, left, claims. (Courtesy Nikoui's relatives)

"From then on, that was just something he talked about starting to be," she added.

Chappell felt like her minimal boy was leaving when he last but not least went off to boot camp. But "immediately after he graduated, it was like I bought a very little male back," she explained.

"He stayed himself. He just acted more mature," Chappell informed WHD News. "He was variety of like a boss."

Nikoui on a regular basis identified as his mom although he was on deployment. Because he was in Jordan, Chappell failed to fret much.

Throughout 1 simply call, Nikoui informed Chappell he'd be dwelling in about a 7 days. But a several times later, he called once more and stated he was acquiring despatched to Kabul to help with the Afghanistan evacuation.

"Then I begun stressing," Chappell advised WHD News.

After observing the Instagram posts on Aug. 26, Chappell viewed the coverage of the Kabul explosion with her daughter. Chappell experienced her daughter transform off the news when stories started off coming in that a number of services users ended up killed.

"I explained to her, you know what? A single of people is not going to be Kareem," she said. "He is likely to be good. He is heading to be residence."

"And then I went about my working day waiting to hear from Kareem," Chappell ongoing.

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Nikoui experienced an athletic childhood, participating in numerous sporting activities. He afterwards turned a jiujutsu winner. (Courtesy Nikoui's family members)

Nikoui's father was the a person to inform Chappell that her son was killed in what was afterwards verified as an ISIS-K terrorist assault.

The fallen Marine employed to hike the hills driving his dwelling to prepare and would always halt on a single in individual. His grave overlooks that hill.

"I chose this place simply because it faces someplace he expended a lot of time," Chappell instructed WHD News.

"Kareem's Marine brothers have been incredibly supportive due to the fact they all received back from Kabul," she said. "They've been with me virtually every single weekend."

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Chappell stated they'd notify her funny tales about her son or would describe the way he aided many others even though on deployment.

"It just served me out a large amount to know that Kareem was so highly thought of and cherished by his Marine brothers," Chappell told WHD News. She mentioned becoming "all around people who were currently being powerful so they could aid me be potent" assisted her pull as a result of that tricky time.

Nikoui "thought that our state is really worth preventing for," Chappell explained. "He believed that maybe starting to be a Marine, there was a little something major he was likely to do to aid improved our place."