11 Days: Operation Pineapple Express

11 Days: Operation Pineapple Express September 10 & 11, 2026 7:00 pm both days NHCC | Wells Fargo Auditorium How far would you go to honor a promise? What would you do if leadership told you the mission was over, but the people you’d promised to protect were still in danger? That’s not a hypothetical. In August 2021, as Kabul fell and the Taliban closed in on the Kabul airport, retired U.S. Army Green Beret Lt. Col. Scott Mann faced exactly that question. His answer became one of the most remarkable rescue operations in modern American history, saving more than 1,000 Afghans in danger of losing their lives. A Task Force Pineapple Production $34 w/ a $5 discount for Students. Veterans, 1st Responders, Seniors, & Members RESERVE YOUR TICKET HERE! The Fall of Afghanistan & Operation Pineapple Express: In August 2021, after nearly 20 years of war, the United States and its allies began their final withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Afghan government and military collapsed rapidly, and on August 15, 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul and reclaimed control of the country. Thousands of Afghans who had worked alongside American forces suddenly found themselves at risk of retaliation. As the evacuation unfolded, retired Green Beret Lt. Col. Scott Mann and a network of fellow veterans launched Task Force Pineapple. What began as an effort to rescue one former Afghan commando grew into the Pineapple Express, an unofficial rescue operation that helped guide Afghan allies, interpreters, special operators, and their families through Taliban-controlled Kabul and toward the airport. The volunteer team ultimately helped more than 1,000 people reach safety. The story of Pineapple Express is more than an evacuation. It is a story of loyalty, courage, sacrifice, and a promise kept—as American veterans returned for one final mission to help the Afghan partners who had stood beside them during the war. *The event is a rental event, not an NHCC production. The title, content, photos/images and description for this event were provided to the NHCC by the organization renting the NHCC venue for the event. By serving as a venue and posting the event on its website, the NHCC is not endorsing any views expressed in the title or description of the event, nor is it endorsing the content of the event. *All NHCC performance/event ticket sales go through the National Hispanic Cultural Center website. NHCC is a division of New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. You will be redirected to our central ticketing system. DO NOT BUY FROM THIRD PARTIES. If you see a third party app or website, please report it to the Center at (505) 246-2261.