A total of 13 US service members tragically lost their lives after an <a href="https://vt.co/news/world/u-s-braces-for-more-isis-attacks-after-90-killed-in-kabul-airport-carnage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explosion outside Kabul airport in Afghanistan took place</a> that was carried out by ISIS. At least 170 have been confirmed dead as a result of the attack. In a White House speech Thursday after the attack, President Joe Biden praised the service members who were safeguarding ongoing evacuation operations in Kabul amid the US withdrawal. He called them "heroes who have been engaged in a dangerous, selfless mission to save the lives of others." <img class=" wp-image-1263124541" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-30-at-12.40.17-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="617" height="411" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: American Photo Archive / Alamy]] Officials believe US forces were targeted in a suicide attack by extremists with a branch of the Islamic State who oppose both America and the Taliban. Biden, in his White House speech, vowed retaliation and held a moment of silence for the dead. "We're outraged as well as heartbroken. We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," the POTUS said. Below, we take a look at each of the 13 heroic US service members who tragically lost their lives in Afghanistan amid the Taliban takeover. <img class=" wp-image-1263124542" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-30-at-12.41.16-928x1024.jpg" alt="" width="551" height="608" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: American Photo Archive / Alamy]] <h3>David Lee Espinoza, Marine Lance Corporal</h3> [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/cityoflaredo/posts/4632975836721058]] David Lee Espinoza's death was confirmed by Officials in Laredo, Texas, who paid tribute to the Marine Lance Corp in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cityoflaredo/posts/4632975836721058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook post</a>. "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 was reportedly 20 years old, per <a href="https://www.fox44news.com/news/state-news/marine-from-laredo-texas-among-those-killed-in-afghanistan-airport-blasts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a>. Rep. Henry Cuellar, the lawmaker for Espinoza's district, said in a <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://twitter.com/RepCuellar/status/1431309607427842054" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">statement</a> that 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." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/RepCuellar/status/1431309607427842054]]  <img class=" wp-image-1263124543" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-30-at-12.42.23-1024x727.jpg" alt="" width="478" height="339" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: American Photo Archive / Alamy]] <h3>Rylee McCollum, Marine Lance Corporal</h3> Rylee McCollum's tragic death was confirmed by Wyoming's governor, Mark Gordon. According to <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/world/asia/marine-killed.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">The New York Times</a>, 20-year-old McCollum - who grew up in Wyoming - had recently gotten married and was expecting a child. He enlisted on his 18th birthday. "He was a beautiful soul," his dad told the above publication. "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.'" <h3>Kareem Nikoui, Marine Lance Corporal</h3> [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/CityofNorco/status/1431336262359674881]]  Nikoui's father Steve, confirmed his son's passing to <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/slain-marine-kareem-nikouis-dad-vents-anger-at-military-biden-after-kabul-airport-blasts" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">The Daily Beast</a>. "I haven't gone to bed all night," Steve told the outlet. "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," he added. Nikoui's father also expressed his thoughts on the withdrawal of US forces, adding: "I blame my own military leaders." <img class=" wp-image-1263124544" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-30-at-12.43.12-1024x673.jpg" alt="" width="574" height="377" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: American Photo Archive / Alamy]] <h3>Max Soviak, Navy Hospital Corpsman</h3> [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/CTFElTwnC_i/]] Max Soviak's sad passing was confirmed by the local school district he attended in Ohio. Ohio senator Rob Portman also paid tribute. "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." "Max was a good student who was active in sports and other activities throughout his school career," the district said. "He was well respected and liked by everyone who knew him. He and his family are in all of our thoughts and prayers." Soviak was reportedly 22 years old. His family told <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/2021/08/27/ohio-navy-medic-max-soviak-killed-afghanistan-sandusky-edisonmarines-kabul-airport-attack/5615293001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">Cincinnati.com</a> that 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." <img class=" wp-image-1263124545" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-30-at-12.46.08-1024x700.jpg" alt="" width="524" height="358" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: American Photo Archive / Alamy]] <h3>Hunter Lopez, Marine Corporal</h3> [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/ChadBiancoForSheriff2022/posts/4395591753832757]] Hunter Lopez was the son of two members of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. 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," Bianco wrote on <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://www.facebook.com/RCSD.Official/posts/4922881337729001" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">Facebook</a>. "Hunter, thank you for your service to our community and our country. My thoughts and prayers are with your family." <h3>Ryan Knauss, Army Staff Sergeant</h3> [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/KnoxvillePD/posts/4271169622967734]] News of Ryan Knauss' death came as "quite a shock" to his family, his grandmother Evelena Knauss told <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/family-of-ryan-knauss-army-sgt-killed-in-kabul-say-it-shouldnt-have-had-to-happen-this-way" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">The Daily Beast</a>. "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 said of the 23-year-old, who was born in Tennessee. Knauss had already completed one 9-month tour of Afghanistan before he was deployed again. "It shouldn't have had to happen this way," she added. <img class=" wp-image-1263124546" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-30-at-12.47.26-1024x650.jpg" alt="" width="591" height="375" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: American Photo Archive / Alamy]] <h3>Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Marine Sergeant</h3> [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/109986723956070/posts/396334758654597]] Johanny Rosario Pichardo's death was announced by the Lawrence Police Department in Massachusetts. "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," police wrote on <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://www.facebook.com/109986723956070/posts/396334758654597" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">Facebook</a>. "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." The 25-year-old previously graduated from Lawrence High School and attended Bridgewater State University, according to <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://boston.cbslocal.com/2021/08/27/marine-sgt-johanny-rosario-lawrence-kille-kabul-airport-attack/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">CBSN Boston</a>. <h3>Jared Schmitz, Marine Lance Corporal</h3> Jared Schmitz's tragic death has left his father Mark heartbroken. "This has just been absolutely devastating," Schmitz's father Mark told <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://www.audacy.com/kmox/news/local/a-marine-from-the-stl-area-was-killed-in-afghanistan-thursday-father-confirms" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">KMOX</a>. Mark told the outlet that he received word about his 23-year-old son's death shortly before 3 AM in the morning on Friday, August 27. "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." <img class=" wp-image-1263124547" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-30-at-12.48.39-1024x708.jpg" alt="" width="559" height="386" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: American Photo Archive / Alamy]] <h3>Nicole Gee, Marine Sergeant</h3> [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/CS0LAGFh35Y/]] Just days before Nicole Gee's tragic death, she shared an image on Instagram that showed her holding a baby in her arms at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. "I love my job," the 23-year-old captioned the snap. 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." [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/cityofroseville/posts/10158451307006848]] <h3>Darin Hoover Jr., Marine Staff Sergeant</h3> [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/KUTV2News/status/1431450412440195073]]  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. Darin Hoover's death was announced by his father, who told of the tragedy to <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://kutv.com/news/local/man-opens-up-about-son-killed-in-afghanistan-bombing" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">KUTV</a>. "He decided, 'That's what I want to do," his father said. Hoover went on to join the Marines when he was 19 and was on his third tour in Afghanistan. He was 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. "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." [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/WVCPolice/posts/2034413156710206]] <img class=" wp-image-1263124548" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/Screenshot-2021-08-30-at-12.49.52-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="573" height="382" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy]] <h3>Daegan Page, Marine Corporal</h3> "Our hearts are broken," Daegan Page's family said in a statement to <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://omaha.com/news/local/marine-from-omaha-killed-in-afghanistan-airport-bombing/article_ff3ebfc2-0768-11ec-9648-7733f6cce474.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">Omaha World-Herald</a>. Page, who grew up in Iowa, was remembered by his family as a "genuinely happy guy that you could always count on." 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." <h3>Humberto Sanchez, Marine Corporal</h3> [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/mayorchrismartin/posts/439299720861070]] Humberto Sanchez, 22, was remembered as a "bright, athletic young man" by his Indiana high school principal. Matt Jones told <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2021/08/27/afghanistan-evacuation-logansport-indiana-man-among-soldiers-killed/5625744001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">IndyStar</a> that Sanchez was "popular, well-liked by his soccer teammates, classmates, coaches, and teachers."  "He was honored to be putting on the Marine uniform and serving his country," Jones added. Meanwhile, Logansport Mayor Chris Martin wrote in a tribute on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mayorchrismartin/posts/439299720861070" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>: "This young man had not yet even turned 30 and still had his entire life ahead of him. "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." <h3>Dylan Merola, Marine Lance Corporal</h3> Dylan Merola was a 20-year-old high school graduate. He had only been in Afghanistan for a week before the attack. "He was supposed to come home in a couple of weeks," a relative told <a class="external-link" title="(opens new window)" href="https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/08/27/dylan-merola-kareem-nikoui-norco-hunter-lopez-kabul-attack-afghanistan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-describedby="external-disclaimer">CBS Los Angeles</a>. His mother Cheryl remembered her son was "one of the best kids ever." "Kind, loving… he would give anything for anybody," she added. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/lance-corporal-dylan-r-merolas-funeral" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">GoFundMe</a> in Merola’s honor has raised more than $50,000. <h6>Featured image credit: American Photo Archive / Alamy</h6>

A dad-to-be, a 'brave young man' and 'the most patriotic kid': The 13 US service members killed in Afghanistan

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