WE ARE

Operation Allies Refuge

We are a Veteran-led Nonprofit Committed to Restoring Hope and Saving Lives

Operation Allies Refuge Foundation exists to restore hope and save lives. We help veterans heal from moral injury through service and humanitarian work, to rebuild soceital connections and to strengthen their spirit. Guided by Service, Resilience, and Community, we provide purpose and support for those who have carried the weight of their service.

From Kabul to a Mission of Healing: The Origin Story of Operation Allies Refuge Foundation

On August 15, 2021, the world watched as Kabul fell to the Taliban. For the thousands of U.S. service members, diplomats, and volunteers who had dedicated their lives to the mission in Afghanistan, it was a moment of heartbreak, chaos, and urgency. In the days that followed, service members worked around the clock at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), carrying out one of the largest and most complex non-combatant evacuations in history. What unfolded was an act of desperation, bravery, and sacrifice—an event that would leave lasting scars on those who took part.

As the evacuation progressed, thousands of Afghan civilians rushed to the airport, desperate to escape. Service members were forced to make impossible choices—who would be allowed through the gates, who would be left behind? They witnessed families separated, children lost in the crowds, and people clinging to planes in a last attempt at freedom. It was a scene of human suffering on an unimaginable scale, and for many who were there, it would become a defining moment in their lives.

Attack At Abbey Gate

On August 26, 2021

The world was shaken by a devastating attack at Abbey Gate of Kabul's International Airport. Amid the frantic efforts, a suicide bomber struck, leading to one of the deadliest days of U.S. forces in over a decade. The attack claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and over 170 Afghan civilians.

In the face of unimaginable danger, the bravery and sacrifice of those on the ground highlighted the extremity of their level of commitment toward the mission and to each other.The true character of the American service member shone through. Many who survived the initial blast rushed to aid the wounded, providing critical medical assistance and helping to evacuate the injured. Their swift actions undoubtedly saved countless lives. Many, who sustained injuries from the blast, continued to assist others--despite their own pain and risk. These acts of selflessness and bravery exemplifies the courage that defines the United States military.

They Sacrificed So Others May Live

When the last military flight left Kabul on August 30, 2021, the war wasn’t over for those who had served. Many veterans, interpreters, and aid workers who had been involved in the evacuation found themselves struggling with a deep sense of moral injury—the psychological and emotional wounds caused by witnessing or taking part in actions that violated their moral beliefs. They had done everything they could, yet the weight of those left behind, the lives lost, and the chaos they had endured left them questioning their own values, their service, and their purpose.

Turning Pain Into Purpose

In the months after the evacuation, a group of veterans came together, bound by a shared experience and a desire to support one another. They realized that the pain they carried was not just personal—it was collective. Many had all seen the same suffering, faced the same impossible decisions, and carried the same weight. But they also understood something powerful: healing comes through action.

With this belief, Operation Allies Refuge (OAR) Foundation was born. What started as a small group of veterans supporting one another soon grew into a nonprofit dedicated to addressing moral injury through service, community, and advocacy. The mission was clear—to help veterans find healing by continuing to serve, not on the battlefield, but in the communities that needed them most.

A New Mission: Healing Through Service

OAR Foundation was built on the idea that acts of service can restore purpose, rebuild societal connections, and mend the spirit. Veterans who had once served in combat zones now had an opportunity to apply their skills in a new way—through humanitarian initiatives, disaster relief, and community rebuilding efforts.

One of the first major efforts undertaken by OAR was assisting communities affected by natural disasters. Veterans deployed to places like Bumpus Cove, Tennessee, where they helped with hurricane recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. They cleared homes filled with debris, rebuilt structures, and provided direct aid to families in need. For many, this was the first time they had felt the same sense of camaraderie and mission they had in the military.

As they worked side by side, veterans found that helping others helped themselves. The sense of helplessness they had carried from Kabul was slowly replaced with a renewed sense of purpose. They weren’t just talking about their experiences; they were channeling their pain into action—a powerful form of healing.

Beyond Service: Advocacy and Education

While service became the heart of OAR, the organization also recognized the need for advocacy and education. The events of the Kabul evacuation had been historic, yet the stories of those who had been on the ground were often overlooked. OAR took on the responsibility of preserving and honoring these experiences through its History initiative.

By capturing the firsthand accounts of Kabul evacuation veterans, OAR ensures that the lessons of the past are not forgotten. These stories are used not only to memorialize the sacrifices made but also to educate future generations about the complexities of war, evacuation, and humanitarian crises.

At the same time, OAR is leading Moral Injury Research and Advocacy, working to better understand the effects of moral injury on veterans and to push for better mental health resources, treatment options, and peer support programs. By directly interviewing veterans and partnering with researchers, OAR is helping shape the national conversation on post-service trauma and recovery.

The Road Ahead

Today, OAR continues to grow, driven by the same principles that inspired its creation: Service, Resilience, and Community. From disaster relief missions to peer support programs, from history preservation to moral injury research, OAR remains committed to restoring hope and saving lives.

For the veterans who once stood at the gates of HKIA, haunted by the choices they had to make, OAR offers a new path—one where healing is possible, where service continues, and where no one carries the burden alone. The mission may have changed, but the purpose remains the same: to stand together, to serve, and to heal.