Sgt. Quandarius Stanley, 23, a motor transport operator, was critically injured when high winds and rough seas damaged the pier, causing four Army vessels to become beached. Two other service members were also injured but returned to duty after treatment.
The incident occurred while the U.S. military was attempting to deliver aid to Gaza, a project that faced multiple complications, including warnings about security and the risk of aid being intercepted by Hamas. Despite these warnings, President Joe Biden insisted on continuing the effort, which ultimately ended in failure and wasted millions of taxpayer dollars.
Although the U.S. military has not released specific details about the exact cause of Stanley’s injuries, they have confirmed it was not related to combat. Stanley passed away last Thursday and had been assigned to the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.
“Sgt. Quandarius Stanley was an instrumental and well-respected first-line leader in the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary (TBX), especially during the mission to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza,” said Col. John “Eddie” Gray, the brigade commander. “Our entire unit mourns alongside his family, and we will continue to provide support to them during this difficult time.”
Capt. Shkeila Milford-Glover, spokesperson for the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, mentioned that Stanley had recently retired and was receiving long-term medical care.
The pier project, which was intended to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, was plagued by bad weather, security challenges, and safety concerns, leading to a halt in aid distribution as agencies feared for their personnel's safety. The Defense Department officially ended the mission on July 28, withdrawing the pier from the Gaza shore.
