War Secretary Pete Hegseth upgraded valor awards for three U.S. Marines who demonstrated exceptional bravery during the chaotic evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August 2021. The ceremony, held at the Pentagon, occurred on the five-year anniversary of the deadly Abbey Gate bombing.
Hegseth presented Bronze Star Medals with "V" devices for valor to Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby and Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston, while Cpl. Michael Gretzon received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a "V" device. The Secretary stated that the original award submissions had been "inappropriately" downgraded due to "bureaucratic caution, or maybe politics."
"Today on this milestone anniversary, we declare that those days are over," Hegseth stated during the ceremony in the Hall of Heroes. He added that for half a decade, leadership had failed to match frontline courage with administrative backbone.
Eby, then a staff sergeant, took command of his platoon and rallied his Marines to establish security and aid the wounded after a suicide bomber struck while he was screening evacuees. His citation noted his actions "undoubtedly saved the lives of many."
Houston, who was about 32 feet from the blast and initially knocked unconscious, remained in an exposed position to provide cover for fellow Marines and render aid to the more severely wounded, despite suffering shrapnel wounds. He concealed his injuries fearing removal from the fight and later removed shrapnel himself before receiving medical attention.
Gretzon also sustained shrapnel wounds to his arm, severe enough for him to apply his own tourniquet. After receiving initial medical attention, he returned to his squad and continued assisting until ordered to a casualty collection point.
The ISIS-K suicide bombing on Aug. 26, 2021, resulted in the deaths of 13 American service members during the final U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan. The fallen service members were identified as Marine Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui; Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak; and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.
The award upgrades coincide with the War Department's Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel's ongoing examination of the attack and the withdrawal. Sean Parnell, the panel's chair, recently stated that investigators recovered "highly relevant classified documents" that he believes were deliberately hidden. The contents of these documents have not been disclosed due to their classified nature, and no individuals have been publicly identified as allegedly concealing them.
Hegseth concluded the ceremony by stating, "Marines, on this fifth anniversary, your valor is now officially, permanently, and properly recognized. You represent the very heart of peace through strength."