Travel
Pacific Tattoo: Tattoo reveal - Michael Gross
Stripes Korea
December 8, 2025
(Photo by Michael Gross)
This ink represents the 13 fallen military members from the attack on Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the withdrawal from Afghanistan on Aug. 26, 2021. It signifies the effort of my team and all military members there trying to save as many families as possible, and specifically children, from the rule of the Taliban. Finally, it represents the mission I was there in support of as a rescue unit: “These things we do that others may live.”