The Fresno Bee from Fresno, California • A12

12A FRESNO BEE SUNDAY AUGUST 29 2021 painful moment in a near- ly 20-year American war that cost more than 2,400 U.S. military lives and is ending with the return to power of a Taliban move- ment that was ousted when U.S. forces invaded in 2001. The Pentagon released the names of the 13 killed 11 Marines, one Navy sailor and one Army sol- dier. Twelve of them were in the 20s; some were born in 2001, the year longest war began.

The oldest was 31. They were the first U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan since Febru- ary 2020, the month the Trump administration struck an agreement with the Taliban in which the militant group halted attacks on Americans in exchange for a U.S. agree- ment to remove all troops and contractors by May 2021. Biden announced in April that the 2,500 to 3,000 troops who re- mained would be out by September, ending what he has called forever war.

The Pentagon said an airstrike early Saturday in the eastern province of Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, killed two ISIS-K and facilita- but spokesman John Kirby said the killings had not ended the terror threat at Kabul airport. have lost some capability to plan and to conduct missions, but make no mistake, no- writing this off and saying, we got them. We have to worry about ISIS-K any- Not the Kirby told a news confer- ence, adding, thinking for a minute that what happened (Saturday) gets us in the clear not a With approval, the Pentagon earlier this month sent thousands of additional troops to the Kabul airport to provide security and to facilitate the State chaotic effort to evacuate thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Afghans who had helped the United States during the war. The evacuation was marred by confusion and chaos as the U.S. government was caught by surprise when the Afghan army collapsed and the Taliban swept to power Aug.

15. About 5,400 Americans have been evacuated from the country so far, in- cluding 300 in the last day. The State Depart- ment believes about 350 more want out; it said there are roughly 280 more people who have said they are Americans but who have not told the State Department of their plans to leave the country, or who have said they plan to remain. The Pentagon said that about 6,800 people, most- ly Afghans, were flown out in the 24 hours that ended Saturday morning, bring- ing to 117,00 the total number of people of all nationalities evacuated since the hurried exit was begun Aug. 14.

Taliban forces sealed off airport Saturday to most Afghans hoping for evacuation. Most NATO nations, including Britain, were flying out the last of their troops Saturday. FROM PAGE 1A KABUL production guidelines at the national level and see if they want to reflect that at the local level for their Multiple employees said they were surprised that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting or PBS at the national level get- ting involved with Valley PBS or enforcing any reg- ulations. At least three former employees told The Bee that they personally knew complaints were made to those organiza- tions and someone was investigating. PBS President Paula Kerger and Senior Vice President for Station Serv- ices Jim Dunford declined to comment for this story.

Officials with the Office of Inspector Gener- al said in an email to The Bee the office does not confirm whether it has received complaints or whether it is investigating complaints, citing confi- dentiality reasons. If any kind of audit, review or investigation is underway, the Office of Inspector General will release a report when the work is completed. FORGING AHEAD Many have called on the executive board to step up and forge a new course for the station, starting with bringing the governing board and community advisory board up to full membership and holding regular meetings. The community ad- visory board reviews con- tent and provides feed- back from the Channel 18 audience to the leadership. The board of directors hires the CEO and sets the budget for the station.

Dougherty said both bodies should reflect the diversity of the Valley. In his op-ed, Morris called on the community to get involved to bring the boards up to full mem- bership. many boards do in times of challenge, they shrink in numbers, decid- ing to stay small until the organization finds stron- ger footing. In theory, this seems like a good idea, but it can lead to board overreach and Castadio said. healthy board culture is one that reflects the public it serves, is founded on trust, is fully transparent, and actively invites, lis- tens to and shapes solu- tions with its board mem- bers, for the best interests of the organization.

contrast, an un- healthy board culture is controlled by a few who are making major deci- sions behind the she said. agree with Mr. Dougherty that it is time for the Valley PBS board to grow its ranks and to conduct a wide and trans- parent CEO search, not just a cursory one to check a box to satisfy public Already, those things are happening, Aiello said. Since he came on board, already been a community advisory board meeting where program- ming was discussed. (CAB mem- bers) here to provide feed- back.

here to tell us how the community is receiving our Aiello said. usually just been a parade, show and tell what doing and not really giving the opportu- nity for the But at the last CAB meet- ing, members brainstormed with station staff on pro- gramming ideas. The meet- ing ended with hugs and high-fives, Aiello said. also recruited six governing board nominees from Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced and Madera, who the board plans to an- nounce this week. That will double the size of the board of directors, but it still quite bring it up to full capacity of 16 mem- bers.

Aiello said that goal is a priority. Aiello also wants the station to become more involved in Kern County. Just this week, the board began the national search for a new CEO. Aiello said he will throw his hat in the ring, but happy to pass the baton to a new CEO. the board find someone, and they need me to do the job, do the he said.

Morris said Valley PBS is and called on the community to show its care for the station. a lot of com- mercial television stations, but only one public television Morris said. is critical that we have a locally managed and supported television station here. like the antiques on not making any more of them. irreplaceable, so take care of HOW YOU CAN HELP A Become a member or make a donation online: valleypbs.org/donate.

A Companies or organizations can learn more about partnerships by contacting valleypbs.org. A Those interested in joining the board of directors or the community advisory board can email for an application. VALLEY PBS BOARD OF DIRECTORS A Musson A Graves A Barron A Lagomarsino A Souza A James Shekoyan Board Mem- bers Brianna Calix: 559-441-6166, FROM PAGE 11A VALLEY PBS A young husband with a child on the way. Another man who always wanted to be in the military. A man who planned to become a deputy when his deployment ended.

Heart- wrenching details began emerging Friday about some of the 13 U.S. troops killed in a horrific suicide bombing at Kabul airport, which also claimed the lives of more than 160 Afghans. ElevenMarines, one Navy sailor and one Army soldier were among the dead, while 18 other U.S. service members were wounded in bombing, which was blamed on offshoot of the Islamic State group. The U.S.

said it was the most lethal day for American forces in Afghanistan since 2011. TheWhite House said President Joe Biden will look for opportunities to honor the servicemembers who lost their lives, many of whomwere men in their early 20s. These are the service members, according to The Washington Post: AMarine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, Jackson, Wyo. AMarine Corps Lance Cpl.

Jared Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Mo. AMarine Corps Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas ANavy Hospital Corps- manMaxton Soviak, of Berlin Heights, Ohio AMarine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of River- side County, Calif. AMarine Corps Lance Cpl.

KareemNikoui, 20, of Norco, Calif. AMarine Corps Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31, of Utah AMarine Corps Cpl. DaeganWilliam-Tyeler Page, 23, of Omaha AArmy Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Knoxville, Tenn.

AMarine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario, 25, Law- rence, Mass. AMarine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, Logansport, Ind. AMarine Corps Sgt.

Nicole Gee, 23, of Rose- ville, Calif. AMarine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Here are the stories of some of the victims and the people mourning them: ARyleeMcCollum, 20, a Marine and native of Bondurant, Wyoming, was married and his wife is expecting a baby in three weeks, his sister, Cheyenne McCollum, said.

was so excited to be a dad, and he was going to be a great McCollum said. She said her brother a Marine before he knew he was allowed to be a Marine carry around his toy rifle and wear his pink prin- cess snow boots and either be hunting or he was a Marine. Sometimes it would be with nothing on underneath, just a ALance CorporalKa- Grant Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California, sent videos to his family hours before he died, showing himself interacting with children in Afghanistan. In one of the clips, he asked a young boy to say hello. to take a video together Nikoui said, leaning in to take a video of himself with the boy.

right, he- roes now, AMarine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, 20, grew up in the St. Louis area and was among a group of Marines sent back to Af- ghanistan to assist with evacuation efforts, his father, Mark Schmitz, told KMOX Radio. Mark Schmitz said his son always wanted to be a Marine. He said he learned of his death when the Marines came to his home inWentzville, Missouri, at 2:40 a.m. Friday.

A Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31, of Utah, had been in the Marines for 11 years and was remembered as a hero who died serving others, his father Darin Hoover said. is a hero. He gave his life protecting those that protect them- selves, doing what he loved serving his said Darin Hoover, who lives in a Salt Lake City suburb. A CorporalDaegan William-Tyeler Page, 23, served in the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment based at Camp Pendleton, Cali- fornia, and planned to go to trade school and pos- sibly become a lineman after his enlistment ended, his family said in a state- ment.

Page was raised in Red Oak, Iowa, and in the Omaha metro area and joined the Marines after graduating fromMillard South High School. He is mourned by his girlfriend, parents, stepmom and stepdad, four siblings and grandparents, the family said in a statement re- leased by a family friend. The statement said the family did not wish to speak to the media at this time. Dad-to-be among 13 US troops killed in Kabul BY AMY BETH HANSON, JANIE HAR AND AMY FORLITI Associated Press REGI STONE AP This December 2019 photo provided by Regi Stone shows Eli Stone, left, and Rylee McCollum at Christmas in Stone's house in Jackson, Wyo. McCollum was one of the U.S.

Marines killed in the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan..