November 2021

A Global Response | Goforth

FSO visually documents final days in Kabul

Department officials and Marines try to process Afghans through a turnstile at HKIA's North Gate pedestrian entryway, Aug. 17, in what the author described as an “impossible situation.” North gate entry operations were moved to different locations later in the day to prevent a dangerous crush of people trying to get through the narrow chokepoint. Photo by Damon Goforth — Department officials and Marines try to process Afghans through a turnstile at HKIA’s North Gate pedestrian entryway, Aug. 17, in what the author described as an “impossible situation.” North gate entry operations were moved to different locations later in the day to prevent a dangerous crush of people trying to get through the narrow chokepoint. *Photo by Damon Goforth*

By Damon Goforth

Damon Goforth, a consular-coned Foreign Service officer, initially traveled to Kabul on a temporary duty assignment from the Department of State Operation Center’s Crisis Management and Strategy (CMS) office to assist with the special immigrant visa surge at post. No stranger to challenging and sometimes dangerous assignments, Goforth had previously served in Embassy Baghdad’s consular section during the ISIS push of 2014. He also served as the sole consular officer in Juba, South Sudan, where he coordinated the safe passage and repatriation of a large number of South Sudanese opposition members after the start of the country’s second civil war. In a prior tour in CMS, Goforth had worked on embassy evacuations from the Stateside perspective, most notably the ordered departure of American diplomats from Yemen.

While these prior experiences uniquely prepared Goforth to respond effectively in high stress situations, no amount of experience, planning, or training could prepare him, or anyone else, for the overwhelming chaos that unfolded in Kabul during his tour.

“The memories of those days at the airport will stick with me forever, as I’m sure they will for everyone else who served there,” he said.

Goforth took photographs with his phone throughout his tour in an effort to illustrate just how chaotic and surreal those final days in the country were. Despite capturing a broad swath of the operations at the embassy and Hamid Karzai International Airport, Goforth said some scenes were simply too devastating for him to document.

“Some things I didn’t take a photo of, like the two-year-old unaccompanied child I carried around with me for hours at the east gate after she made it through the masses outside. She fell asleep in my arms and I couldn’t bear to just abandon her, but ultimately I had to,” said Goforth. “I didn’t want a photo of that time with her because I knew the memories would be bad enough.”

A U.S. Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit carries a baby as the child's family processes through HKIA for evacuation, Aug. 28. Photo by USMC Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla — A U.S. Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit carries a baby as the child’s family processes through HKIA for evacuation, Aug. 28. *Photo by USMC Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla*

While Goforth’s photos succeed in illustrating this historic moment in time, and the humanity of those who experienced it, he believes they inadequately convey the atmosphere of despair that he and his colleagues were witness to—the wailing of the crowds, the parents crying out for their missing children, the anguish of families being separated because some of their members didn’t qualify for evacuation, the near constant sound of gunfire and concussion grenades exploding, the smell of destruction, and the continuous stream of aircraft taking off and landing.

“No one signed up for Kabul expecting to evacuate soon after arriving—but everyone put their shoulder to the wheel and persevered, often with a smile on their face. We did the best we could in an impossible situation, saving countless lives in the process,” said Goforth. “I am very proud to have served alongside such a dedicated and professional group of people, all of whom exemplified the best in American values.”

The author holds a consular stamp bearing the Great Seal of the United States, which he intentionally defaced with a hand drill to prevent its misuse. Employees followed FAM guidelines when destroying sensitive Department property in preparation for the closure of Embassy Kabul. Photo by Damon Goforth — The author holds a consular stamp bearing the Great Seal of the United States, which he intentionally defaced with a hand drill to prevent its misuse. Employees followed FAM guidelines when destroying sensitive Department property in preparation for the closure of Embassy Kabul. *Photo by Damon Goforth*

Embassy staff members physically destroy electronics containing sensitive information during shutdown operations, Aug. 15. "It was a consular team effort," said Goforth. "We destroyed all of it ourselves—it was the only way we could be certain that everything would be property identified for destruction, ensuring nothing fell into the hands of the Taliban." Photo by Damon Goforth — Embassy staff members physically destroy electronics containing sensitive information during shutdown operations, Aug. 15. “It was a consular team effort,” said Goforth. “We destroyed all of it ourselves—it was the only way we could be certain that everything would be property identified for destruction, ensuring nothing fell into the hands of the Taliban.” *Photo by Damon Goforth*

Damon Goforth monitors the secure destruction of American passports at the Camp Alvarado compound, Aug. 15. “When some of the passports didn’t fall directly into the fire, I had to jump into the pit and shovel them back into the flames,” he said. “That’s why my boots are singed and burnt.” Photo by Daniel Londono — Damon Goforth monitors the secure destruction of American passports at the Camp Alvarado compound, Aug. 15. “When some of the passports didn’t fall directly into the fire, I had to jump into the pit and shovel them back into the flames,” he said. “That’s why my boots are singed and burnt.” *Photo by Daniel Londono*

_{“We took hammers and drills to everything in the section. I can’t guess how many hundreds of cubic feet of paper we burned, how many thousands of dollars in equipment we destroyed. Over two days, we basically nuked the entire consular section—anything that could be exploited by the Taliban we obliterated or burned.”}

After shutting the gate, Aug. 17, responders at the airport began pulling people over the barrier to safety. In this photo, embassy security personnel rescue an American from the crowd. "We didn't just assist Americans, we were pulling in nationalities from all over the world, as well as Afghans under threat," said Goforth. "I personally pulled in an Afghan minister, as well as a female member of parliament and her family." Photo by Damon Goforth — After shutting the gate, Aug. 17, responders at the airport began pulling people over the barrier to safety. In this photo, embassy security personnel rescue an American from the crowd. “We didn’t just assist Americans, we were pulling in nationalities from all over the world, as well as Afghans under threat,” said Goforth. “I personally pulled in an Afghan minister, as well as a female member of parliament and her family.” *Photo by Damon Goforth*

Department staff helped manage entry at all of the airport’s gates 24 hours a day, which often meant working in darkness due to the lack of lighting or power. The initial East Gate security perimeter, seen here, Aug. 18, was far outside of the inner vehicle gate used later in the operation. The author noted that Afghans trying to enter the airport compound stretched "as far as the eye could see.” Photo by Damon Goforth — Department staff helped manage entry at all of the airport’s gates 24 hours a day, which often meant working in darkness due to the lack of lighting or power. The initial East Gate security perimeter, seen here, Aug. 18, was far outside of the inner vehicle gate used later in the operation. The author noted that Afghans trying to enter the airport compound stretched “as far as the eye could see.” *Photo by Damon Goforth*

_{“It is hard to describe the toll this work had on our FSOs and military. It was physically and psychologically exhausting for all involved—both Afghan and American.”}

A U.S. Special Forces soldier (far right) monitors two Taliban fighters, one holding a steel pipe and the other a piece of lumber (left) who were attempting to control the crowd blocking HKIA’s East Gate, Aug. 19. Volunteers working the gate noted that many Afghans entering the airport compound had been severely beaten by the Taliban crowd control element patrolling the streets outside. Photo by Damon Goforth — A U.S. Special Forces soldier (far right) monitors two Taliban fighters, one holding a steel pipe and the other a piece of lumber (left) who were attempting to control the crowd blocking HKIA’s East Gate, Aug. 19. Volunteers working the gate noted that many Afghans entering the airport compound had been severely beaten by the Taliban crowd control element patrolling the streets outside. *Photo by Damon Goforth*

_{“Upon arriving at the gate, I saw Taliban carrying weapons both in front of and behind the Marines. This progressed to the Taliban bringing me the documents of SIV holders and Americans, essentially aiding our efforts at identifying vulnerable people for evacuation.”}

Marines in front loader (left) and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle secure the East Gate at HKIA, Aug 19. On most days, temperatures at the airport hovered above 100 degrees, leading to many cases of heat stroke/exhaustion among those gathered outside. Photo by Damon Goforth — Marines in front loader (left) and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle secure the East Gate at HKIA, Aug 19. On most days, temperatures at the airport hovered above 100 degrees, leading to many cases of heat stroke/exhaustion among those gathered outside. *Photo by Damon Goforth*

Although few and far between, there were brief moments at HKIA where responders could let their guard down and relax. In this photo, the author plays with a U.K. bomb-detection K-9. Photo by Carlos Dhabhar — Although few and far between, there were brief moments at HKIA where responders could let their guard down and relax. In this photo, the author plays with a U.K. bomb-detection K-9. *Photo by Carlos Dhabhar*

_{“We parked the MRAP against the gate with only a foot of clearance for the door to open.}
_{That way, we were able to prevent a mad rush from occurring.”}

The author and other evacuees depart Kabul bound for Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai, U.A.E., on an Australian military transport flight, Aug. 23. Photo by Damon Goforth — The author and other evacuees depart Kabul bound for Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai, U.A.E., on an Australian military transport flight, Aug. 23. *Photo by Damon Goforth*

_{“It was very bittersweet to leave HKIA before the operation was truly over. With more and more TDYers flying in to assist, those that had been on the ground the longest were sent home. It is telling that, having been on the ground for nearly two months, I was the longest serving consular officer in the section.”}

Damon Goforth was a consular officer at Embassy Kabul.

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