Florida mother grieving son killed in Kabul attack

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss was among the last soldiers killed successful the 20-year warfare successful Afghanistan. Now, his parent is dealing with the grief.

Paula Knauss says since birth, her son's destiny was to beryllium a soldier.

"He did his archetypal push-up from the archetypal hr helium was born, truthful helium was military-ready from the start," she said.

Knauss says that astatine 17 years old, her lad signed up for the army. By 23, helium was already a unit sergeant.

Just a fewer weeks ago, Knauss says her lad volunteered to instrumentality a 2nd circuit successful Afghanistan, a past ngo to assistance evacuate radical fleeing the Taliban.

"He said, 'You don't get it, mom. This is what I was meant to do,'" Knauss said.

Knauss said her lad worked astatine the gates of the airdrome successful Kabul, checking the paperwork of the radical coming through.

Last Tuesday, Knauss received a connection from him that said, 'All bully present mom, I emotion you.'

It was the past clip Knauss ever heard from Ryan.

Last Thursday morning, terrorists apt affiliated with ISIS-K bombed the Kabul airport. Thirteen American work members were killed, on with much than 100 civilians.

Among those killed was Staff Sgt. Ryan Christian Knauss.

"We knew you had to bash what you had to do. We miss you truthful much. And we'll spot you connected the different side," his parent said.

As Knauss grieves, she says she's frustrated with the concern successful which the Pentagon enactment her lad and galore different troops.

"My lad knew the outgo of warring for freedom. But the 1 happening I'm definite helium didn't recognize was the terms you had to wage for the authorities of it," she said.

Now, Knauss' household is readying a funeral. Paula hopes her lad tin beryllium buried astatine Arlington National Cemetery.

"He volition beryllium everlastingly remembered, arsenic helping america successful this country, retrieve what existent heroism is," she said.

This communicative was primitively published by Wendi Lane connected Scripps presumption WFTS successful Tampa, Florida.