The U.S. service members who died in the suicide bombing that occurred at Hamid Karzai International Airport were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
Thirteen service members were killed in the blast from an Islamic State terrorist on Aug. 26, as were approximately 170 Afghan nationals. The U.S. military and coalition allies were undergoing a mass evacuation, one of the largest in history, after the Taliban swiftly rose to power as the United States was getting ready to withdraw from the conflict.
TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN KABUL TERROR ATTACK
“The 11 Marines killed-in-action while supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel will be awarded the Purple Heart,” Capt. Andrew Wood, a Marine Corps spokesman, said in a Thursday statement to the Washington Examiner.
The Marines who lost their lives were identified as Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, 31; Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, 25; Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23; Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22; Cpl. Daegan Page, 23; Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22; Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20; Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20; Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20; Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20; and Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20.
Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak was also awarded the Purple Heart and was promoted to the rank of Hospital Corpsman Third Class on Tuesday.
“Petty Officer Soviak gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to this country,” Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said in a statement. “While this promotion and the Fleet Marine Force Corpsman warfare badge are awarded posthumously, I have no doubt his dedication to this nation, his displayed skill as a Hospital Corpsman, and devotion to the mission at hand warrant this recognition.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss was also awarded the Purple Heart, according to the Associated Press.
The bombing took place right outside the gates of the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, as the U.S. was working to evacuate more than 120,000 who would be at risk under the Taliban regime. President Joe Biden had set an Aug. 31 withdrawal date and held firm to it even amid international pressure to extend the deadline to ensure everyone could be evacuated in time.
Nearly two dozen other soldiers were wounded in the blast, though they have all since returned stateside.
