During his State of the Union address in March, President Joe Biden announced his plans for an ill-fated military-constructed temporary pier off the coast of Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people but explicitly vowed that "no U.S. boots will be on the ground" in the Hamas-controlled territory.

It appears that Biden's promise was broken, however, as a U.S. soldier who was severely injured while working on the Gaza pier has now died from those injuries sustained months earlier, according to Breitbart.

Of course, some of Biden's defenders might play semantic games and argue that U.S. troops on ships and the floating pier technically never set foot on the ground in Gaza, but to many Americans -- and likely the deceased soldier's family -- that is an infuriatingly condescending distinction without a difference.

Biden's costly Gaza pier

In his State of the Union remarks in March, President Biden briefly discussed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas terrorists in Gaza and mentioned the "humanitarian crisis" being endured by the Palestinian people along with his plan to address the situation with increased delivery of aid, particularly through a military-constructed floating pier.

"Tonight, I’m directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters," Biden said. "No U.S. boots will be on the ground."

To be sure, that was a lie from the get-go, as by necessity some "U.S. boots" would have to touch the ground on the shores of Gaza to build the pier Biden ordered constructed for what amounted to a costly photo op.

Construction began soon after Biden's speech and, according to Breitbart, the temporary floating pier was opened in mid-May, only to then be shut down just two months later in mid-July -- a two-month stretch in which the pier was only operational for about 20 days total because of near-constant rough storms and high waves that made the floating pier too dangerous to use.

In fact, aside from the $230 million price tag for taxpayers, the cost of the pier also included at least three casualties in the form of three soldiers who suffered injuries while working on the pier -- two of whom soon returned to work after recovering from their minor wounds and a third who ultimately perished from his grievous injuries.

Sgt. Stanley died from injuries sustained months earlier

CNN reported this week that U.S. Army Sgt. Quandarius Davon Stanley, 23, died on October 31 from injuries he sustained while working on the Gaza pier in May, just days after he'd been medically retired by his unit on October 25.

Stanley, who joined the Army in 2020 and was a motor transport operator, was assigned to the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary unit that played a lead role in constructing and operating the temporary floating pier.

It has not been disclosed how Stanley was injured or what his injuries entailed, but it is believed that he received treatment at an Israeli hospital before being transported to a military hospital in Texas.

Unit confirms death, offers condolences

According to CNN, a spokesperson for the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, of which Sgt. Stanley's unit was a piece, confirmed in a statement on Monday, "Stanley was injured while supporting the mission that delivered humanitarian aid to Gaza in May 2024 and was receiving treatment in long-term care medical center."

Condolences were offered by the 7th TBX commander, Col. John "Eddie" Gray, who said, "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."

"We will continue to provide support to his family during this difficult time. Our entire unit mourns alongside his family," the colonel added.