United States Marine Corps Sergeant Tyler Andrews has released his first public statement after he was severely injured and required two amputations following the August suicide bombing at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan that claimed the lives of 13 U.S. Servicemen as well as foreign soldiers and a large number of civilians, has released his first public statement.
Andrews was injured severely during the August 26, 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan that marked the deadliest day for Joe Biden’s disastrous military withdrawal from the country. According to Warfighter Overwatch, Andrews was “struck by an IED suicide blast at the Kabul airport, where he suffered extensive injuries” and, as of October 14, had received 25 surgeries to repair the damage he sustained.
A double amputee, Andrews received “a left wing amputation, full hip dysarticulation, right arm amputation above the elbow,” and other surgeries following the Kabul airport suicide bombing. In his first public statement, Andrews thanked those who have offered support. “I hate the way I look right now,” wrote Andrews, before adding that he he is making progress mentally:
Let me start by saying that these past almost 2 months have indeed been hard. I have been trying to figure out what I want to say and how to say it. The outpouring of support from friends, family, organizations, and even just complete strangers has been unreal. I won’t ever be able to thank everyone enough, but still, thank you.
Ensuring that my mom and siblings are taken care of while they support me is really what matters to me most, and that is being done.
Posting this picture of myself is a very difficult thing for me to do. I hate the way I look right now and I’m working mentally on coming to terms with loss of my right arm and my left leg. I am sharing this though to help me with this process. Laying in bed for almost 2 months has caused me to lose everything I had worked for physically.
Everyday I am working toward my recovery. Some days are better than others, but you best believe I will still strive to be the best version of myself regardless of these injuries. I just have new challenges now and physically am a different person, but I’ll see how far I can go with this new body haha.
Thank you again to everyone, you have my love and my family’s.
-USMC Sgt. Tyler Andrews
Prior to making the statement, Steven Boice, who was in the same platoon as Andrews in 2019, spoke to athletic mentality website NFQ on October 14. “He influences everyone else on the team and makes sure we are the best versions of ourselves. Definitely the epitome of a Marine,” said Boice, who told the outlet that Andrews had recently left the ICU.
“Big win for us,” explained Boice, “last week he successfully completed his 23rd surgery, each one is making positive steps forward in the right direction.”
