Washington, D.C.— Five years after one of the darkest moments of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Americans are once again honoring the 13 U.S. service members who lost their l1v3s in the Abbey Gate 4tt4ck at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26, 2021.
The fifth anniversary was commemorated on August 26, 2026, with tributes from the White House, military leaders, veterans, Gold Star families and communities across the United States.
President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation designating August 26, 2026, as a day commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Abbey Gate 4tt4ck and called on Americans to remember the courage and sacrifice of those who never returned home.
At approximately 5:36 p.m. on August 26, 2021, an ISIS-K su1c1d3 b0mb3r detonated an explosive device near Abbey Gate as American forces were conducting the massive evacuation operation following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
The 4tt4ck took the l1v3s of 11 Marines, one U.S. Army soldier and one Navy hospital corpsman. Dozens of American service members were also w0und3d, while a large number of Afghan civilians were k1ll3d or 1njur3d.
The 13 American service members remembered five years later are:
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss
U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak
Their mission during those final days in Kabul involved protecting and processing thousands of Americans, Afghan allies and other civilians desperately attempting to leave Afghanistan.
Five years later, their families continue to carry their legacy as Gold Star families, while memorial ceremonies and community events across the country keep their names at the center of remembrance.
The anniversary also brought new recognition for three Marines who survived the 4tt4ck. Jonathan Eby, Jordan Houston and Michael Gretzon received upgraded military decorations in recognition of their actions during the chaos following the explosion.
Retired Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby and retired Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston were recognized with the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for valor, while retired Cpl. Michael Gretzon received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” device.
Another survivor, Marine Corps Sgt. Noah Smith, who suffered serious 1njur13s at Abbey Gate, has continued serving and helping prepare a new generation of Marines while carrying the memory of the friends and fellow service members who never came home.
The fifth anniversary remains deeply personal for the families of the fallen. Behind every military title was a son or daughter, brother or sister, spouse, parent and friend whose absence continues to be felt five years later.
The events surrounding the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal also remain the subject of political debate and government review. But remembrance of the 13 service members extends beyond those disputes.
On this anniversary, their names remain the focus:
Darin. Johanny. Nicole. Hunter. Daegan. Humberto. David. Jared. Rylee. Dylan. Kareem. Ryan. Maxton.
Thirteen American service members who stood at Abbey Gate during the final days of a 20-year war.
Five years later, their sacrifice has not been forgotten. Their names remain permanently connected to Abbey Gate, and their memory continues to live in the hearts of their families, fellow service members and a grateful nation.