Families of Slain Service Members Yell 'Burn in Hell!' at Biden During Ceremony
Family members of soldiers killed in Afghanistan blame Democrat for the deaths
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Families of slain U.S. service members, who died in the terrorist attack at Kabul airport last week, slammed Democrat Joe Biden during the ceremony for the dignified transfer of remains of the 13 soldiers on Sunday, according to reports.
Family members who attended the service have since recalled the raw emotions that were on display during the ceremony that Biden attended.
Biden was sharply criticized for his behavior at the ceremony after he appeared to check his watch while the remains of 11 Marines, one Army soldier, and a Navy corpsman were received.
According to Mark Schmitz, the father of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, one woman screamed at Biden across the airport tarmac, “I hope you burn in hell! That was my brother.”
Schmitz, whose son was killed in the suicide bombing attacks outside the Kabul Airport, recalled the events to the Washington Post.
Mr. Schmitz added that he attended the ceremony with his ex-wife and accused Biden of "glaring" at her while he was speaking.
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Schmitz said Biden spent more time looking at his ex-wife while he spoke about his son Beau Biden - who died from cancer after leaving the military - than he did speaking about the troops that had just lost their lives.
The devastated father said he had strong words for Biden and told him to his face that he should respect the service members' sacrifices.
“I said, ‘Don’t you ever forget that name. Don’t you ever forget that face. Don’t you ever forget the names of the other 12,’ ” Schmitz said to the Post.
“‘And take some time to learn their stories.’”
Biden bristled at the comment from Schmitz.
He said, “I do know their stories.”
Schmitz is one of many family members who spoke out about their visit with Biden at the Dover Air Force base.
"It’s got to be difficult,” he told the Post.
"I’m not saying it was easy at all.
"But you can’t run up and hug someone as if you had nothing to do with it.
"It’s not going to work that way when you’re commander-in-chief."
Schmitz indicated he grew weary of Biden talking about his son Beau Biden’s death, in an attempt to sympathize with the family:
When he just kept talking about his son so much it was just — my interest was lost in that.
I was more focused on my own son than what happened with him and his son.
I’m not trying to insult the president, but it just didn’t seem that appropriate to spend that much time on his own son.
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Slain Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum’s sister Roice noted that Biden’s words did not comfort the family — especially her brother’s wife, who was pregnant with his child.
"My dad and I did not want to speak to him,” she said.
"You cannot kneel on our flag and pretend you care about our troops.
"You can’t f— up as bad as he did and say you’re sorry.
"This did not need to happen, and every life is on his hands.”
Roice said her sister-in-law was also frustrated by the president checking his watch and speaking about his own son.
Schmitz also said he was agitated by the president checking his watch.
