Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines, on the third anniversary of the terrorist attack at Kabul Airport, joined House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in announcing that Congress will honor the 13 American service members killed in the attack by presenting their families with the Congressional Gold Medal. The ceremony will take place in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. ET, and Senator Daines will deliver remarks.

"Our country owes the 13 brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago a debt of gratitude we will never be able to repay," said Daines. "These heroes dedicated their lives to serving our nation and protecting our security and freedoms both at home and abroad. With this Congressional Gold Medal, we memorialize their ultimate sacrifice and honor their memory."

On August 26, 2021, during the final days of the Afghanistan withdrawal, an ISIS-K suicide bomber attacked Hamid Karzai International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members.

The following service members made the ultimate sacrifice that day and will be honored with the Congressional Gold Medal on September 10, 2024:

- Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover

- Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo

- Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee

- Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez

- Marine Cpl. Daegan Page

- Marine Cpl. Humberto Sanchez

- Marine Lance Cpl. David Espinoza

- Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz

- Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum

- Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola

- Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui

- Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton Soviak

- Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss

The Congressional Gold Medal will be awarded posthumously on September 10, 2024.

Daines introduced the bill in September 2021 after the deadly attack.