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The 13 U.S. service members killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul in August are a step closer to receiving Congress’ highest honor after the House approved posthumously awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal.
In a vote Monday evening, the House agreed to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the 11 Marines, one Navy corpsman, and one soldier killed in the attack outside the Kabul airport during the military’s chaotic evacuation of U.S. citizens and vulnerable citizens Afghans.
“The American servicemembers went above and beyond the call of duty to protect citizens of the United States and our allies to ensure they are brought to safety in an extremely dangerous situation as the Taliban regained control over Afghanistan,” the bill to award the medals said.
“The American service members exemplified extreme bravery and valor against armed enemy combatants,” it added.
The House bill was introduced by Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and co-sponsored by 323 lawmakers. The measure was approved by voice vote on Monday, meaning it had near-unanimous approval.
McClain urged the Senate to quickly pass the bill “so we can properly honor these fallen service members.”
“These 13 fallen warriors, along with many others, made the ultimate sacrifice,” McClain said in remarks ahead of Monday’s vote.
The Senate still must vote to approve the medals, and the president must sign the bill before they are awarded. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate last month by Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and has 53 co-sponsors.
In addition to the 13 U.S. troops killed, an estimated 170 Afghan civilians died.
The Pentagon identified the service members killed as Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, 22; Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23; and Marines Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20; Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20; Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20; Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20; Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22; Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31; Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23; Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23; Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22; Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20; and Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25.
