Young men and women from across the country — California, Ohio, Texas, Wyoming — are among those killedin the attack outside the Afghanistan capital airporton Thursday that left 13 U.S. service members and scores more civilians dead.
In a White House speech Thursday after the attack, PresidentJoe Bidenpraised the service members who were safeguarding ongoing evacuation operations in Kabul amid the U.S. withdrawal.
He called them “heroes who have been engaged in a dangerous, selfless mission to save the lives of others.”
Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. told reporters Thursday that a suicide bomber struck the Abbey Gate, one of the entry points to Kabul’s airport, after which Islamic State gunmen opened fire on the military and civilians.
Asked how the assailants could have made it through the layers of security, McKenzie said, “It was a failure somewhere.”
He said he did not know the size of the bomb used but suggested that could be responsible for the high number of casualties.
Biden, in his White House speech, vowed retaliation and held a moment of silence for the dead. “We’re outraged as well as heartbroken,” he said.
“We will not forgive. We will not forget,” he said. “We will hunt you down and make you pay.”
David Lee Espinoza, Marine Lance Corporal
Officials in Laredo, Texas,confirmedEspinoza’s death in a Facebook post paying tribute to the Laredo native.
“The City of Laredo expresses its most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of U.S. Marine David Lee Espinoza, a brave young man,” they wrote.
“Thank you for your service to the United States of America and Laredo. Your acts of courage and bravery will always be remembered in our community.”
Espinoza wasreportedly20 years old.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, the lawmaker for Espinoza’s district, said in astatementthat he “joined the military after high school … with the intention of protecting our nation and demonstrating his selfless acts of service.”
“Mr. Espinoza embodied the values of America: grit, dedication, service, and valor,” Cuellar said, adding, “My heart goes out to the Espinoza family in this extremely difficult time. The brave never die. Mr. Espinoza is a hero.”
Espinoza’s mother, Elizabeth Holguin, toldThe Washington Posther sonhad dreamedof being a Marine since he was young.
“It was his calling and he died a hero,” Holguin told thePost.
Rylee McCollum.Facebook
Rylee McCollum, Marine Lance Corporal
According toThe New York Times, McCollum, 20, had recently gotten married and was expecting a child. He enlisted on his 18th birthday.
“He was a beautiful soul,” his dad told theTimes.
“He’s the most patriotic kid you could find. Loved America, loved the military. Tough as nails with a heart of gold.”
Wyoming Sen. John Barasso echoed that in a statement, citing McCollum’s father: “Rylee wasted no time answering the call to serve our country, joining the Marines right out of high school. As Rylee’s dad once said, he was ‘full-blooded red, white and blue.’ "
Rylee’s mother, Kathy McCollum, explained how she was told the news in a recent appearance with radio host Andrew Wilkow, offeringstrongly-worded criticismof President Biden’s role in her son’s death.
“I woke up at 4 o’clock this morning,” McCollum said. “Two Marines at my door telling me that my son was dead.” She added that Biden, “sent my son to die.”
Kareem Nikoui.facebook
Kareem Nikoui, Marine Lance Corporal
In tears, Nikoui’s father, Steve, confirmed his son’s death toThe Daily Beast.
“I haven’t gone to bed all night,” Steve said. “I’m still in shock. I haven’t been able to grasp everything that’s going on.”
His son, he said, “always wanted to be a Marine.”
“He was devoted — he was going to make a career out of this, and he wanted to go. No hesitation for him to be called to duty,” Steve said.
He had sharp words for the withdrawal of U.S. force at the end of the 20-year Afghanistan war: “I blame my own military leaders,” he said, and PresidentJoe Biden.
Maxton Soviak.U.S. Navy
Max Soviak, Navy Hospital Corpsman
According to the Navy, Soviak enlisted in the Navy on Sept. 26, 2017, and graduated from Recruit Training Command, in Great Lakes, Illinois, November 2017.
“He was a hero who died serving with his Marine brothers helping to save fellow countrymen and our Afghan allies. We mourn his loss and are praying for his family and friends,” Portman said in a statement.
In their own statement, Soviak’s former school district remembered him as “full of life in everything he did.”
Soviak was 22 years old. His familytold theUSA Todaynetworkthat he was “a wonderful son who loved his family, his community, and was proud to serve in the U.S. Navy.”
“As we mourn the loss of our son, we also mourn for the loss of the Marines and Soldier who were killed and pray for the speedy recovery of all of those wounded in Afghanistan,” Soviak’s family said.
“Words cannot express how heartbroken we are with this news and we will miss Max tremendously.”
Hunter Lopez.Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Facebook
Hunter Lopez, Marine Corporal
Lopez, the son of two members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, had dreams of following in his parent’s footsteps.
After graduating from high school in 2017, he joined the United States Marine Corps, according to a statement from Sheriff Chad Bianco.
“Hunter, who was 22 years old at the time of his death, planned on following his parent’s footsteps and becoming a Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy after returning home from his current deployment,” Biancowrote. “Hunter, thank you for your service to our community and our country. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.”
Ryan Knauss.U.S. Army
Ryan Knauss.Twitter
Ryan Knauss, Army Staff Sergeant
News of Knauss' death came as “quite a shock” to his family, his grandmother Evelena Knauss toldThe Daily Beast.
“We were led to think that it was 12 Marines and one Navy, and we knew our grandson was in the Army. So we were praying for the families of the Marines, not knowing our grandson was one of the ones who lost his life,” she said. “You just don’t think it will be yours.”
“It’s been a very sad day for us,” she added of the 23 year old, who was born in Tennessee and had already completed one 9-month tour of Afghanistan before he was deployed again. “It shouldn’t have had to happen this way.”
Johanny Rosario.Facebook
Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Marine Sergeant
“Chief Roy Vasque and the Members of the LPD offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of Marine Corp Sgt Johanny Rosario of Lawrence. Sgt. Rosario was tragically killed in Thursday’s senseless act of violence at Kabul Airport,” policewrotein a statement. “She and the other American heroes gave their lives helping others to safety. May they and all the victims of this tragic event rest in peace.”
Pichardo, 25, previously graduated from Lawrence High School and attended Bridgewater State University, according toCBSN Boston.
Jared Schmitz.Facebook
Jared Schmitz, Marine Lance Corporal
“This has just been absolutely devastating,” Schmitz’s father MarktoldKMOX.
Mark told the outlet that he received word about his 23-year-old son’s death shortly before 3:00 a.m. in the morning on Friday.
“As his parents, of course, we were terrified,” Mark added. “I don’t have words for how upset we are.”
“He was probably one of the coolest, unique individuals I ever met,” he continued of his son, who graduated from high school in 2019. “I’m very honored that I could call him my son.”
Nicole Gee.Nicole L. Gee/Instagram
Nicole Gee, Marine Sergeant
The California native was remembered as a “hometown hero” in a tribute from the city of Roseville.
“Nicole was a 2016 Oakmont High School graduate who enlisted in the Marines a year after she graduated. Her husband, Jarod Gee, is also an Oakmont graduate and Marine,” read the tribute.
In another tribute, Sgt. Mallory Harrison wrote that Gee’s “last breath was taken doing what she loved —helping people.”
Lt. Col. Patrick Williams, the commanding officer of Gee’s battalion, said in his own statement that she was “a shining example of what a Sergeant of Marines should be — mature, enthusiastic, and courageous. Her passing weighs heavy on our entire battalion.”
Taylor Hoover.Facebook
Darin Hoover Jr., Marine Staff Sergeant
Years before he was able to enlist, the 31-year-old Utah Marine knew that he wanted to serve, according to his father, who said that his son made up his mind following the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Hoover went on to join the Marines when he was 19 and was on his third tour in Afghanistan — scheduled to return home in September.
“He led his men, and they followed him, but I know in my heart of hearts he was out front,” his father said, before reiterating his support for the armed forces. “These guys go out knowing at any time or place their life can be taken in a blink of an eye, and they do it for our freedom every single day.”
Daegan Page.Page Family
Daegan Page, Marine Corporal
“Our hearts are broken,” Page’s family said in a statement to theOmaha World-Herald.
Leaving no room for doubt about his commitment to service, Page — who joined the Marines after graduating from high school in 2016 — had the words “Death Before Dishonor” tattooed on his chest, according to the outlet.
“He had a special kind of courage and commitment to serve our country and protect others,” said Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert. “We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to those who wear our nation’s uniform, and faithfully and respectfully serve.”
Humberto Sanchez.Logansport Police Department/Facebook
Humberto Sanchez, Marine Corporal
“He was honored to be putting on the Marine uniform and serving his country,” Jones added.
“This young man had not yet even turned 30 and still had his entire life ahead of him,” Logansport Mayor Chris Martinwrotein a tribute. “Any plans he may have had for his post-military life were given in sacrifice due to the heart he exhibited in putting himself into harm’s way to safeguard the lives of others.”
Dylan Merola.
Dylan Merola, Marine Lance Corporal
Merola, a 20-year-old high school graduate who hoped to study engineering in college, had only been in Afghanistan for about a week before the attack.
“He was supposed to come home in a couple of weeks,” a loved one toldCBS Los Angeles.
His mother Cheryl remembered her son was “one of the best kids ever.” “Kind, loving… he would give anything for anybody,” she added.
source: people.com
