Last Updated on August 30, 2021 by 1st Marine Division
Camp Pendleton, Calif. – 1st Marine Division mourns the loss of nine Marines and one Sailor killed in an attack at the Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26.
“I extend my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the 1st Marine Division servicemen who lost their lives while heroically safeguarding the evacuation of thousands of U.S citizens and faithful allies from Hamid Karzai International Airport,” said Maj. Gen. Roger B. Turner Jr., commanding general of the 1st Marine Division. “Nine Marines and one Sailor paid the ultimate price to defend our nation and extend the reach of freedom beyond our shores. We cherish the legacy these warriors leave
behind and commit our resources to support the wounded and bereaved.”
The servicemen were members of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently forward-deployed with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central-Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC). The unit deployed in February and is scheduled to return later this Fall.
The mission of the SPMAGTF-CR-CC is to respond rapidly and efficiently to a wide-range of military operations using aviation, ground, and logistics assets. They were tasked to assist with the evacuation of the American Embassy, U.S. citizens, special immigrant visa applicants, and those Afghans who worked alongside us, served alongside of us, and provided invaluable assistance to us.
Below are the servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice:
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Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover
Pay Entry Base Date: 2010/09/13
Rank and Date of Rank: Staff Sergeant (E6): 2020/02/01
Home of Record: Salt Lake, UT
Assigned Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Home Duty Station and Location: MCB Camp Pendleton
Military Occupational Specialty: 0369, Infantry Unit Leader Awards and decorations: Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Certificate of Commendation (Individual), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Letter of Appreciation, Meritorious Mast, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (additional awards pending approval may include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon)
Cpl. Hunter Lopez
Pay Entry Base Date: 2017/09/05
Rank and Date of Rank: Corporal (E4) – 2019/11/01
Home of Record: Indio, CA
Assigned Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Home Duty Station and Location: MCB Camp Pendleton Military Occupational Specialty: 0311, Rifleman
Awards and decorations: Certificate of Appreciation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Letter of Appreciation, Meritorious Mast, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (additional awards pending approval may include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon)
Cpl. Humberto Sanchez
Pay Entry Base Date: 2017/07/17
Rank and Date of Rank: Corporal (E4) – 2020/01/01
Home of Record: Logansport, IN
Assigned Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Home Duty Station and Location: MCB Camp Pendleton
Military Occupational Specialty: 0311, Rifleman
Awards and decorations: Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. (additional awards pending approval may include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon)
Cpl. Daegan Page
Pay Entry Base Date: 2018/01/16
Rank and Date of Rank: Corporal (E4) 2021/08/01
Home of Record: Omaha, NE
Assigned Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Home Duty Station and Location: MCB Camp Pendleton
Military Occupational Specialty: 0311, Rifleman
Awards and decorations: Korean Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. (additional awards pending approval may include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon)
Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz
Pay Entry Base Date: 2019/07/08
Rank and Date of Rank: Lance Corporal (E3) – 2020/07/01
Home of Record: Saint Charles, MO
Assigned Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Home Duty Station and Location: MCB Camp Pendleton
Military Occupational Specialty: 0311, Rifleman
Awards and decorations: National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (additional awards pending approval may include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon)
Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui
Pay Entry Base Date: 2019/09/09
Rank and Date of Rank: Lance Corporal (E3) – 2020/11/01
Home of Record: Norco, CA
Assigned Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division Home Duty Station and Location: MCB Camp Pendleton Military Occupational Specialty: 0311, Rifleman
Awards and decorations: National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (additional awards pending approval may include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon)
Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola
Pay Entry Base Date: 2019/08/26
Rank and Date of Rank: Lance Corporal (E3) – 2020/10/01
Home of Record: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Assigned Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Home Duty Station and Location: MCB Camp Pendleton
Military Occupational Specialty: 0311
Awards and decorations: National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. (additional awards pending approval may include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon)
Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum
Pay Entry Base Date: 2019/09/09
Rank and Date of Rank: Lance Corporal (E3) – 2020/11/01
Home of Record: Jackson, WY
Assigned Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Home Duty Station and Location: MCB Camp Pendleton
Military Occupational Specialty: 0311, Rifleman
Awards and decorations: National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. (additional awards pending approval may include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon):
Lance Cpl. David Espinoza
Pay Entry Base Date: 2019/08/12
Rank and Date of Rank: Lance Corporal (E3) – 2020/10/01
Home of Record: Rio Bravo, TX
Assigned Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division Home Duty Station and Location: MCB Camp Pendleton Military Occupational Specialty: 0311, Rifleman
Awards and decorations (additional awards pending approval may include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon): National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Navy Hospital Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force) Maxton Soviak
Pay Entry Base Date: 2017/09/26
Rank and Date of Rank: Hospital Corpsman (E3) – 2019/04/01 Home of Record: Berlin Heights, OH
Assigned Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Home Duty Station and Location: MCB Camp Pendleton
Military Occupational Specialty: L03A, Hospital Corpsman
Awards and decorations: National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Flag letter of Accommodation. (additional awards pending approval may include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon)
SOURCE: News release from 1st Marine Division