The Pentagon on Wednesday honored the heroic actions of three Marines who were involved in the deadly and chaotic Abbey Gate mission, which coincides with the five-year anniversary of the tragic bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for valor to Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston and Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby. He also awarded Cpl. Michael Gretzon the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” device.
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During the ceremony, Marine Corps Commandant Eric Smith highlighted their bravery during the aftermath of the bombing, which killed more than 150 Afghan civilians and injured dozens of American troops, on top of the 13 American fatalities.
Houston was knocked unconscious by the blast, which occurred just 10 meters from him. Upon awakening, he discovered a shrapnel wound in his hip, but ignored the injury and even concealed it “for fear of being taken out of the fight,” and chose instead “to provide life-saving treatment to the Marines around him,” Smith said.
Eby “was with his Marines at the time of the attack, leading the refugee screening effort,” he added. “As soon as he regained his footing, he continuously exposed himself to scan for threats and reestablish a security perimeter.”
Gretzon, Smith said, also suffered shrapnel wounds. His injuries were so severe that he had to apply a tourniquet to his own arm. He remained in his position until he was ordered to receive care and ultimately had to be ordered to stand down.
“As was mentioned, exactly five years ago, at a dusty, exposed checkpoint in Kabul called Abbey Gate, the world witnessed the absolute best of America standing in the gap to defend our country and those Americans they served alongside during one of our darkest strategic hours,” Hegseth said.
Thirteen service members were killed in the blast, and many of the families are still looking for more transparency from the Department of War for the decisions that were made that created the conditions that resulted in the Abbey Gate chaos.
Last year, Hegseth announced a new review of the withdrawal, even though the Pentagon had already carried out multiple investigations. This one is led by top Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who himself served in Afghanistan.
“Recently, my team recovered highly relevant classified documents — material that should have been disclosed — stashed and hidden away in safes where they would not be found,” Parnell said in a video announcement Wednesday morning, adding that, once reviewed, “it became clear why someone tried to hide them.”
He did not provide any specific details about what those relevant documents purportedly reveal.
“I’m not going to give you a convenient version of the truth, nor will I give you a rushed one. Here is my commitment: We are following the evidence to wherever it leads and to whoever it touches,” Parnell said. “We’re not accepting incomplete or comfortable answers.”
