This will hopefully be the first of many. Elisa is the wife of Greg Frich who deployed in 2021, ending with the NEO in HKIA. She generously offered her testimony in the hopes that it will help other spouses and loved ones of HKIA veterans who may recognize some of her experiences and struggles. Despite all of that Elisa, along with Greg, are hopeful for their family and their future.

This interview was conducted by Katlin Rodriguez, a military spouse of over ten years and a valued member of OAR's Historical Research and Preservation Team. Her willingness, kindness, and fortitude have been and will undoubtedly continue to be a great help for other spouses and families. We at the Operation Allies Refuge Foundation want to bring more stories like this to light (and with better quality) so that people can know and understand what happened in the final days of America's mission in Afghanistan. Please consider supporting us by clicking on this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.operationalliesrefugefoundation.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more content like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oarfoundationjournal.org/

Greg Frich came from a Marine family and was originally born on a base in Okinawa. For him and his brother, joining the Corps was simply a matter of when. Their father even helped them prepare for bootcamp and the other trials he knew they would face. Still, things did not play out how Greg had anticipated, but perhaps it was just another test to prepare him for what was to come. We at the Operation Allies Refuge Foundation want to bring more stories like this to light (and with better quality) so that people can know and understand what happened in the final days of America's mission in Afghanistan. Please consider supporting us by clicking on this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.operationalliesrefugefoundation.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more content like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oarfoundationjournal.org/

One can not underestimate the role of the United States Airforce during the chaotic weeks of the Kabul evacuation in August 2021. It is only because of the bravery and professionalism of the pilots, aircrews, and supporting personnel that anyone was able to get in or out of HKIA. This interview was with an Airforce Aeromedical Evacuation Technician (AET) supporting that mission. Thousands of feet in the air, on the flightline, or in the hangars in Qatar, the chaos was felt everywhere. We at the Operation Allies Refuge Foundation want to bring more stories like this to light so that people can know and understand what happened in the final days of America's mission in Afghanistan. Please consider supporting us by clicking on this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.operationalliesrefugefoundation.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more content like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oarfoundationjournal.org/