The Pentagon on Saturday released the names of the 13 U.S. service members who lost their lives during Thursday's terrorist attack at the Kabul airport. It was the deadliest attack for the U.S. military in Afghanistan since 2011.
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah
Known by many as Taylor, he served in the Marines for 11 years. He was a son, a brother, a boyfriend, and someone who loved his family. His father, Darin Hoover, spoke to The Washington Post, calling his son "a hero. He gave his life protecting those that can’t protect themselves, doing what he loved serving his country."
Hoover also shared how he heard from fellow Marines who shared their experiences with his son as their sergeant. "They look back on him and say that they’ve learned so much from him," Hoover told the outlet, saying he was also "One heck of a leader."
I don't know what to say, I can't imagine the pain the family of Staff Sgt. Hoover must be feeling. My heart goes out to them. Thank you for raising such a brave young man. I'm so sorry for your loss.. https://t.co/7PWxUpndVA
— Burgess Owens (@BurgessOwens) August 28, 2021
Taylor Hoover was one of our fallen warriors from the cowardly terrorist attack in Afghanistan.
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) August 27, 2021
His family calls Hoover a "hero" who loved the Marines Corps.
Fair winds and following seas. pic.twitter.com/gJ2YFkI11j
Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) has ordered flags at state facilities and public grounds in Utah to be flown at half-staff through Monday.
My heart is broken. I spoke with Staff Sgt. Hoover’s parents today. I told them Utah mourned with them. When I asked how we could help, his dad simply replied, “Just promise me Utah will never forget my son.”
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) August 27, 2021
I did.
Please help me keep my promise. ?????? https://t.co/jP05xNBznk
In honor of the 13 U.S. Marines killed in Afghanistan, including Utah Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, Governor Cox has ordered flags be flown at half-staff at all state facilities and on all public lands until sunset on August 30, 2021. pic.twitter.com/wcHTRAdywa
— Utah Veteran & Military Affairs (@Utah_DVMA) August 28, 2021
This is Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo. She was 25 and from Massachusetts.
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) August 28, 2021
She was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing. pic.twitter.com/FBTFEuiYmT
2. Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Mass. pic.twitter.com/xLqlbYeuMO
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) August 28, 2021
Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
Reporting from The New York Post on the thirteen service members notes that Rosario was honored in May by her unit, the the Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The brigade's aided in evacuations from the airport.
Kendrys Vasquez, the mayor of Lawrence, said he had been in touch with her family "to extend mine and my family’s most sincere condolences and offer all of the aid that my administration can provide as they grieve this great loss." The mayor also indicated that at "this time, the family’s most immediate wish is to be given privacy and that their loved one be recognized as the hero that she was."
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There is no measure of thanks for Sgt. Rosariopichardo’s ultimate sacrifice, so we must honor her heroism in service to the United States and all of those we lost in this attack. Our flags fly lower, our hearts hang heavy, and our gratitude runs eternal for Sgt. Rosariopichardo.
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) August 28, 2021
Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California
Gee was one of the service members comforting an infant in a tweet shared by the Department of Defense earlier this month.
Last Thursday, U.S. Marine Sgt Nicole L. Gee, standing in the top right photo, was killed in the terrorist attack in Kabul. https://t.co/1t8Ydb5dd2
— Marilyn Terrell (@Marilyn_Res) August 28, 2021
Gee shared that photo of her holding the infant on her Instagram page, with the caption "I love my job."
Stars and Stripes reported that Gee "had been pictured in photos of the evacuation holding an Afghan baby and escorting girls to a waiting military aircraft." The report also mentioned a Facebook post from Capt. Karen Holliday. "She had a name. She was doing God’s work…..a warrior," the post said. "Searching Afghan women and children trying to get out of country."
Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California
Kitty Alvarado for NBC Palm Springs has a particularly touching thread about Lopez on Twitter after speaking with the young man's mother.
Corporal Hunter Lopez’s mom, an RSO deputy, tells me his last act of service was bringing this little boy in Afghanistan to safety … carried him on his shoulders for five miles. He is the epitome of hero. pic.twitter.com/xqCrEJlCV1
— Kitty Alvarado NBC (@HeyKitty) August 28, 2021
Lopez planned to follow in his family's footsteps and become a sheriff's deputy.
NEW: Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco reports that one of the Marines killed in Afghanistan is Hunter Lopez, the son of a Captain and a deputy in the department. Prior to the Marines, Sheriff Bianco says Lopez served in the Sheriff’s Explorer program. RIP. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/q3trm1XLFX
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) August 27, 2021
CBS 2 reported on a statement from the Riverside Sheriff's Association, which in part read:
Hunter was the victim of vicious evil and was killed because he wore a United States Marnie uniform with love and pride. Our entire community feels the anguish, and we mourn the death of Hunter, who answered the call to serve, defend and protect our nation. Like his parents who serve our community, being a Marine to Hunter wasn’t a job; it was a calling. He loved his family, and as we grieve for Hunter and his fellow Marines taken from us too soon, there are simply no words to express how deeply he will be missed — Semper Fi.
The Lopez family requests that all donations be made to the Riverside County Deputy Sheriff Relief Foundation in the name of the Lopez Family. The address is 21810 Cactus Avenue, Riverside, CA 92518. The Lopez family respectfully requests privacy during this incredibly difficult time. The family will share details and plans for the celebration of Hunter’s life at a later date.
5. Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha. pic.twitter.com/6nqPajocIR
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) August 28, 2021
Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska
Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska. https://t.co/zeoLYk7pYQ
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 28, 2021
Susanne and I encourage Nebraskans to keep Daegan’s family in their prayers in the coming days and weeks.
— Gov. Pete Ricketts (@GovRicketts) August 27, 2021
Flags will fly at half-staff to honor the victims of the terror attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Flags will fly at half-staff starting immediately and until sunset on August 30, 2021.
— Gov. Pete Ricketts (@GovRicketts) August 27, 2021
Please RETWEET to spread the word.
The Omaha World-Herald also included touching tributes for Page, such as from his high school, Millard South High School, which said he had been "a wonderful example of the Patriot Way" and expressed that "We are grateful for his service to our country. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family."
The report also noted that Page's unit had been deployed and arrived at Hamid Karzai International Airport about two weeks ago, as part of a contingent to aid in evacuations.
Page’s unit had already been deployed to the Middle East as a quick-reaction force. They landed at Hamid Karzai International Airport about two weeks ago.
I am heartbroken to learn of the death of Corporal Daegan William-Tyeler Page, one of the U.S. Marines killed in Afghanistan. He served his country honorably, and his service will never be in vain.https://t.co/JsQoXDcKMa
— Rep. Don Bacon (@RepDonBacon) August 27, 2021
Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana
Local politicians paid tribute to Sanchez over social media, as did friends.
In the Marines, our motto is Semper Fidelis, meaning always faithful. Humberto Sanchez embodies this commitment, and we must never forget his bravery and his sacrifice.
— Senator Todd Young (@SenToddYoung) August 28, 2021
May we never forget Corporal Sanchez’s name or his heroism to a grateful nation. As the family grieves, I ask fellow Hoosiers to please join me in praying for his family during this incredibly difficult time.
— Congressman Jim Baird (@RepJimBaird) August 28, 2021
Maureen & I send our condolences, prayers, and sincerest gratitude to the family of Corporal Humberto Sanchez, who was killed in the attack on Kabul airport helping Americans & allies evacuate the country. Cpl. Sanchez is an American hero & his sacrifice will never be forgotten.
— Senator Mike Braun (@SenatorBraun) August 28, 2021
one of my good friends growing up was one of the Marines that passed away, and it hurts that he’s gone..
— Adrian (@AdrianGazcon) August 28, 2021
RIP Humberto Sanchez, thank you for your service, you’re a hero bro?? pic.twitter.com/rUuBTTetji
Stars and Stripes also reported that Fatima Magnison mentioned her husband was best friends with Sanchez, and that she called him 'Bert.' Of the four fallen Marines, Magnison said they "were too sweet...to be gone so soon." She also said "I can’t believe it," and that "My heart is heavy today and every day on."
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas
Espinoza was from Laredo and lived in Rio Bravo for his whole life. His mother, Elizabeth Holguin, spoke to the Laredo Morning Times about her son. "He was my hero," she said. "He was just brave enough to go do what he wanted and to help out people. That’s who he was, he was just perfect."
Gov. Greg Abbott and Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz ordered flags to be flown half-staff.
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 from Laredo, Texas. Thank you for your service to the U.S.A and Laredo. Your acts of courage and bravery will always be remembered. pic.twitter.com/DI7pqwwy1F
— City of Laredo (@cityoflaredo) August 27, 2021
I mourn him and all the fallen heroes in Afghanistan. My heart goes out to the Espinoza family in this extremely difficult time. The brave never die. Mr. Espinoza is a hero.
— Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) August 27, 2021
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri
Schmitz was deployed to Afghanistan from Jordan as part of his first deployment. His father, Mark Scmitz, told KMOX that his son always wanted to be a soldier. "His life meant so much more," Schmitz said about his son. I’m so incredibly devastated that I won’t be able to see the man that he was very quickly growing into becoming."
Today I spoke with the family of Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, of Wentzville, Missouri, a Marine who lost his life yesterday in the Kabul attacks, while proudly serving this nation. I promised his family that his service and his legacy will not be forgotten
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 27, 2021
My deepest condolences to Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz’ family and friends, Jared was a huge Blues fan and I am very devastated to hear about his passing! RIP https://t.co/0xsly3pCKK
— David Perron (@DP_57) August 28, 2021
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming
The expectant father's wife, Gigi whom he married in April, is pregnant with a baby due in mid-September. They had kept the sex a surprise.
McCollum joined the Marines on his 18th birthday and was deployed to Afghanistan from Jordan two weeks ago.
As Cheyenne, his sister, shared with EastIdahoNews.com:
“He was a kid that touched everybody’s heart. He was a wrestler since he was 4. He knew he was going to be a Marine since he was about that same age. He used to walk around in just a diaper and in his sister’s pink princess boots carrying his toy rifle and play like he was in the Army or a Marine,” Cheyenne said.
...
“He signed papers on his 18th birthday and called my dad and was like, ‘Oh, Dad, I need you to come sign this for me. I’m enlisting,’ and he’s like, ‘Oh wait, it’s my birthday, I don’t need your signature anymore!’ And we couldn’t have been more proud of him because he was doing what he needed to do and what he wanted to do,” she said.
...
“He was going to be the best dad. We don’t know (the gender of the baby). They decided to keep it a surprise. We hope it’s a boy. I had a baby in 2019, and he just loved her so much,” Cheyenne said.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to support McCollum's child.
Hero.
— Josh Stewart (@J0SHSTEWART) August 28, 2021
God bless his family.
Let’s take care of them.
Rylee McCollum's Child Education Fund https://t.co/zpOI5sPTUX
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
Merola had been deployed just over a week before he was killed.
Was notified last night, that my little brother, Dylan Merola, who was just deployed for over a week, was one of the casualties of the Kabul Airport attack. The news is starting to release his name as the 14th military member to pass away. RIP and say hey to dad & grandma for me pic.twitter.com/rR5wS97sWh
— David Merola (@davidmerolajr) August 28, 2021
His mother, Cheryl Merola spoke to CBS 2 and shared how how her son planned to go to college for engineering. "He was one of the best kids ever," she also said. "Kind. Loving. Giving to every single person. He would give anything for anybody."
Dylan's final text message to his mother was "I love you and I'll talk to you soon."
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California
Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, is an Iranian-American Marine from Southern California who sacrificed his life to save other Americans and Afghanis.
— Asaad Hanna (@AsaadHannaa) August 27, 2021
He died yesterday in #Kabul airport. pic.twitter.com/RXGXN9NEPP
In addition to calling out President Biden for how he "turned his back on" his son, Kareem Nikoui's father, Steve Nikoui shared some particularly touching parts about his son with The Daily Beast:
Kareem “loved what he was doing, he always wanted to be a Marine,” said Nikoui, noting that his son had been stationed close to home, at Camp Pendleton. This made it easy for Kareem to visit on weekends, and he often brought along “10 or 15 other Marines” with him. When the holidays rolled around, Kareem always brought a few buddies with him for a home-cooked meal, according to Nikoui.
“My wife and I felt very honored that [since] these other boys weren’t around their homes, that we were able to provide some sort of family life for them,” he said. “He really loved that [Marine Corps] family. 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.”
The New York Post also reported that the day before he was killed, Kareem had sent his dad a video of him with Afghan children at the Kabul Airport. Steve Nikoui said on Friday that the clip helped put him and his wife "at ease to where we felt like, he’s all right."
As CBS 2 reported:
The city said Nikoui’s name will be enshrined on the “Lest We Forget Wall” at the George A. Ingalls Veterans Memorial Plaza, which honors Norconians who made the ultimate sacrifice.
A Gold Star Families Memorial Monument is currently being constructed by a local man who is related to Nikoui.
“He is the cousin of the boy that was killed,” said Norco Mayor Kevin Bash. “He realizes he’s building this for himself. This is what we do in Norco. This is the kind of community we are.”
Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio
The Sandusky Register reported that Soviak was one of the service members who lost their lives.
#USNavy identifies the Sailor killed in the Aug. 26th attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, as Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak. #OperationAlliesRefuge #HonorTheFallen pic.twitter.com/XtByJd4Noj
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) August 28, 2021
Maxton Soviak, a Navy hospital corpsman - a medic, the most selfless of all those in the military - identified as one of those killed in the HKIA suicide attack. Fair winds and following seas, young sailor. May you rest on the waves.
— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) August 27, 2021
Navy Hospital Corpsman Max Soviak represented the very best of Ohio. He gave everything in the struggle to bring Americans and our allies to safety. The terrorists responsible will be held accountable.
— Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) August 27, 2021
My prayers are with his family. His sacrifice will never be forgotten. https://t.co/IgNAcE4JRY
An Instagram post from someone who The New York Post reported is Marilyn Soviak, Maxton's older sister, includes a slideshow of photos from the two of them growing up.
The caption read:
I’ve never been one for politics and i’m not going to start now. What I will say is that my beautiful, intelligent, beat-to-the-sound of his own drum, annoying, charming baby brother was killed yesterday helping to save lives. he was a f**king medic. there to help people. and now he is gone and my family will never be the same. there is a large Maxton sized hole that will never be filled. he was just a kid. we are sending kids over there to die. kids with families that now have holes just like ours. i’m not one for praying but damn could those kids over there use some right now. my heart is in pieces and I don’t think they’ll ever fit back right again.
On his own Instagram, Soviak called himself a "Patriot" and a "Corpsman."
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee
“Ryan was the embodiment of an Army Special Operations Forces soldier, a testament to the professionalism of the non-commissioned officer corps, and a steadfast husband and teammate. His loss is devastating to our formation and Army family.” -@8thPSYOPgroup’s Col. Jeremy Mushtare
— 1st Special Forces Command (@1st_SF_Command) August 28, 2021
Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, died Aug. 26 from wounds sustained during the attack at HKIA in Kabul, Afghanistan.
— Lee (Pi Guy) ?? (@PiGuyGG) August 28, 2021
Ryan was a brother from the same Company I served in. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts.
Until Valhalla Brother ?? https://t.co/p1hUnotNy6
His grandfather, Wayne Knauss, shared a touching sentiment with WATE that Ryan "grew up in a Christian home, attended Berean Christian school through eighth grade and spent, four years at Gibbs High." He also called him a "motivated young man who loved his country. He was a believer so we will see him again in God’s heaven."
These men and women were no older than 31. Not only was 20 the youngest age, it was the most common age of those who were killed. They would have been just babies on September 11, 2001.
Buzz Patterson, who is running for Congress in California's 7th district, tweeted that when the service members arrived in Dover, nobody from the Biden White House was present to meet them.
Our heroes were returned to American soil and Dover AFB today.
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) August 29, 2021
Nobody from the Biden White House attended.
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