Major Joshua Mast

But it was also filled with tragedy because you just saw these kids get blown up and 170 Afghans and all their surviving orphans and even some of the National Mission Force families that I believe had tried to adopt some of the orphans because they were right there by Abbey Gate is where the squadrons were operating out of. And so they were some of the first on scene to secure the scene and just...

But it was also filled with tragedy because you just saw these kids get blown up and 170 Afghans and all their surviving orphans and even some of the National Mission Force families that I believe had tried to adopt some of the orphans because they were right there by Abbey Gate is where the squadrons were operating out of. And so they were some of the first on scene to secure the scene and just...

But it was also filled with tragedy because you just saw these kids get blown up and 170 Afghans and all their surviving orphans and even some of the National Mission Force families that I believe had tried to adopt some of the orphans because they were right there by Abbey Gate is where the squadrons were operating out of. And so they were some of the first on scene to secure the scene and just...

scooping up kids that are just recently orphaned and bonding with them over the next three or four days before they have to evac out on, I think, the 30th. Because I believe that, I can't remember the date of the bombing off the top of my head, but it was a couple days afterwards. So you had these kids who were recently orphaned with our guys and protecting them and bonding with them.

scooping up kids that are just recently orphaned and bonding with them over the next three or four days before they have to evac out on, I think, the 30th. Because I believe that, I can't remember the date of the bombing off the top of my head, but it was a couple days afterwards. So you had these kids who were recently orphaned with our guys and protecting them and bonding with them.

scooping up kids that are just recently orphaned and bonding with them over the next three or four days before they have to evac out on, I think, the 30th. Because I believe that, I can't remember the date of the bombing off the top of my head, but it was a couple days afterwards. So you had these kids who were recently orphaned with our guys and protecting them and bonding with them.

I think it was four days. She flew home on a rotator with them, with our entire group together. And then we, I think we got her a couple days after that. Because Dulles happened, and then it took them a few days to get their act together and get her back to us. So it was within a week of that that it all occurred.

I think it was four days. She flew home on a rotator with them, with our entire group together. And then we, I think we got her a couple days after that. Because Dulles happened, and then it took them a few days to get their act together and get her back to us. So it was within a week of that that it all occurred.

I think it was four days. She flew home on a rotator with them, with our entire group together. And then we, I think we got her a couple days after that. Because Dulles happened, and then it took them a few days to get their act together and get her back to us. So it was within a week of that that it all occurred.

It was honestly awesome. We were so thankful. We have some good video of our kids getting to see her because they'd FaceTime with her or they prayed for her, sent videos to her, sent presents to Afghanistan. And so to them, it was a very distinct person in their lives. She's two years old? Two years old, yeah. Really tiny. And she was walking like a baby deer, like a barely walk. She couldn't run.

It was honestly awesome. We were so thankful. We have some good video of our kids getting to see her because they'd FaceTime with her or they prayed for her, sent videos to her, sent presents to Afghanistan. And so to them, it was a very distinct person in their lives. She's two years old? Two years old, yeah. Really tiny. And she was walking like a baby deer, like a barely walk. She couldn't run.

It was honestly awesome. We were so thankful. We have some good video of our kids getting to see her because they'd FaceTime with her or they prayed for her, sent videos to her, sent presents to Afghanistan. And so to them, it was a very distinct person in their lives. She's two years old? Two years old, yeah. Really tiny. And she was walking like a baby deer, like a barely walk. She couldn't run.

it took her quite a while to build the strength. So her physical therapists were like, this is like the most underdeveloped, like lower body we've seen in a child this age. And so like she was, it took her a long time to get strong. It took her a long time to get to her body weight again. but Steffi's a pretty good nutritionist and build that up over time.

it took her quite a while to build the strength. So her physical therapists were like, this is like the most underdeveloped, like lower body we've seen in a child this age. And so like she was, it took her a long time to get strong. It took her a long time to get to her body weight again. but Steffi's a pretty good nutritionist and build that up over time.

it took her quite a while to build the strength. So her physical therapists were like, this is like the most underdeveloped, like lower body we've seen in a child this age. And so like she was, it took her a long time to get strong. It took her a long time to get to her body weight again. but Steffi's a pretty good nutritionist and build that up over time.

And it was... Well, and I would say her therapist commented that she's... She's displaying behavior that's consistent with an uncertain environment with violence because she would – she was quiet and always restricted her – she wouldn't even cry. Yeah. She knew how to suppress emotion. She would like turn in like this and sit there. So what they said is that's very common in violence.

And it was... Well, and I would say her therapist commented that she's... She's displaying behavior that's consistent with an uncertain environment with violence because she would – she was quiet and always restricted her – she wouldn't even cry. Yeah. She knew how to suppress emotion. She would like turn in like this and sit there. So what they said is that's very common in violence.

And it was... Well, and I would say her therapist commented that she's... She's displaying behavior that's consistent with an uncertain environment with violence because she would – she was quiet and always restricted her – she wouldn't even cry. Yeah. She knew how to suppress emotion. She would like turn in like this and sit there. So what they said is that's very common in violence.

children with an uncertain environment where there could be, like, emotional outbursts or anger because they've learned to suppress and not make themselves a target, not rock the boat. And they also noticed that she had a real aversion to men and then closed spaces. Like, if in a therapy session they would shut the door, she'd start to, like, lose it.

children with an uncertain environment where there could be, like, emotional outbursts or anger because they've learned to suppress and not make themselves a target, not rock the boat. And they also noticed that she had a real aversion to men and then closed spaces. Like, if in a therapy session they would shut the door, she'd start to, like, lose it.