Trump Meets Families of Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
Trump Meets Families of Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump traveled Thursday to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, for the arrival of the remains of two American soldiers who died in Afghanistan earlier this week.
Chief Warrant Officer David Knadle, 33, of Texas and Chief Warrant Officer Kirk Fuchigami, 25 of Hawaii -- were killed Wednesday in Logar Province when their helicopter crashed, the Pentagon said in a statement on Thursday. The crash is under investigation.
Trump spoke earlier Thursday to Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani, and expressed appreciation for the country’s efforts in freeing Taliban hostages Kevin King and Timothy Weeks, the White House said.
“Both sides agreed a reduction in violence is necessary to move the peace process forward and for any intra-Afghan negotiations regarding a political settlement to be successful,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.
Trump was joined Thursday night at Dover by First Lady Melania Trump and several aides, as well as actor Jon Voight, who Trump presented with an award earlier in the day at the White House.
Trump saluted as the remains of the two soldiers, who were members of the Army’s First Air Cavalry, were borne off a plane and transfered to a vehicle.
Voight, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a disabled Vietnam veteran in “Coming Home,” watched the ceremony, known as a “dignified transfer,” with staff and other onlookers, and later told reporters that the president had invited him to pay his respects. He added that he didn’t meet the families of Knadle and Fuchigami.
“It’s very moving, isn’t it? Very powerful,” Voight said under a wing of Air Force One afterward. “It’s so respectful, and so dignified, and it must be some comfort that their children were cherished by the country.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Josh Wingrove in Washington at jwingrove4@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, Joshua Gallu, John Harney
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