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The Catholic Defender: Bless the families of our fallen troops, and fill their homes and their lives with Your strength and peace.

Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo enlisted in the Marines and served with the Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade Pichardo was assigned to assist in the Afghanistan evacuation efforts.

 

Immediately upon arriving in Kabul, Sgt. Rosario-Pichardo volunteered to work a security assignment that only women could do in Afghanistan – screen the women and children attempting to flee the country. Pichardo lost her life assisting two Afghan women who were being trampled by the pack of people outside the airport gates, when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt.



Sergeant Nicole Gee, a native of Roseville, California, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2017 and was later assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, where she provided maintenance on ground electronics transmission systems.


Sgt. Gee deployed to Afghanistan in support of the Afghanistan withdrawal. There, she served on a Female Engagement Team, to facilitate evacuation support for Afghan women and children.

Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, was killed in a suicide attack along with 12 other service members.


Less than a week prior to her death, Sgt. Gee made a social media post of her caring for an Afghan infant in which she remarked: “I love my job”.



Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover was born 24-JUL 1990 in Salt Lake City Utah.  His father was Darin Hoover.  His mother was Kelly Barnett Hoover.  He had two adoring sisters Tori and Allyson. In 2008, Taylor Hoover graduated from Hillcrest High School in Midvale, just south of Salt Lake City.

Taylor Hoover was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Pendleton. His unit deployed to Kabul to support evacuation efforts.  Taylor Hoover served in the Marines for 11 years and was on his third tour in Afghanistan when he was killed.  He died after a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport Kabul, Afghanistan. 26 Aug 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan.  He was 31.  Darin was engaged to Nicole and planned to be married when he returned from Afghanistan.


Cpl. Hunter Lopez was born 15 Jan 1999 in Palm Springs and grew up in Indio California.  His parents were Herman and Alicia.  Both of Hunter’s parent served in law enforcement.  Hunter had one sister: Trinity and one brother: Owen.  He graduated from La Quinta High School in 2017. Before joining the Marine Corps, he served as a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Explorer Scout from 2014-2017, where he obtained the rank of Captain.

As soon as he was able to, he started talking to a recruiter. He traveled down to the recruiting office in Palm Desert and talked to a recruiter about the opportunities the military would provide.”

Hunter arrived in Afghanistan in the final days of America’s decades-long war there. In his last phone call with his parents, he described the chaos in helping people evacuate.

Hunter was most recently a member of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Golf Company, 1st Platoon, 3rd squad. Hunter once told family members a story about a little boy who had been separated from his family. Hunter carried that boy for miles to get him to safety. They also learned from Hunter’s fellow Marines that just moments before the deadly explosion at the Kabul Airport, he saved two young girls who were being crushed by the panicked crowd. 

Corporal Daegan William-Tyeler Page served in the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment based at Camp Pendleton, California, and had planned to go to a trade school and possibly become a lineman after his enlistment ended.


Page, 23, was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Aug. 26 attack as troops were helping to screen Afghans and others at the Abbey Gate of the Kabul airport. At least 169 Afghans were also killed in the bombing, as they struggled to get into the airport and on flights out of the country.


Humberto “Bert” Sanchez enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from Logansport (IN) High School in 2017, where he excelled as a student and athlete. He was honored to serve his country, and was assigned to Marine Corps 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

Serving as an embassy guard in Jordan, Cpl. Sanchez and his unit were later reassigned to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul when the Taliban began to reassert its power in Afghanistan during the late summer of 2021.

During the chaotic 2021 withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Sanchez was assisting with the evacuation of 100,000 Americans and Afghan refugees. He was one of 13 troops killed by a suicide bomber as they helped to screen Afghans and others at the Abbey Gate of the airport. At least 169 Afghans were also killed in the bombing as they struggled to get into the airport and escape the Taliban.


Lance Corporal David Lee EspinozaJuly 10, 2001- August 26, 2021

“From the Halls of Montezuma To the Shores of Tripoli; We fight our country's battles In the air, on land and sea; First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean; We are proud to claim the title of United States Marine." Excerpt from the US Marine Corps Hymn


Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza gave his life for the protection and betterment of his country, his servicemen and women, as well as those he was sworn to protect and defend on August 26, 2021, in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The tremendous sacrifice will forever be remembered not only by his beloved family but the nation as a whole.


In the words of the late President Ronald Reagan: “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in this world.  Marines don’t have that problem.” David, you have made a difference in this world.  Until we meet again, may you rest in peace, Semper Fi, Ooh-Rah !!!.


His incredible bravery and relentless dedication to the Marine Corps is truly inspirational and a constant source of pride.

He is a true American hero to whom we are eternally grateful for having paid the ultimate sacrifice. 

Til Valhalla, Semper Fi.


Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz, USMCRifleman, Ghost Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines


His incredible bravery and relentless dedication to the Marine Corps is truly inspirational and a constant source of pride.

Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum was born 26-FEB 2001 in Riverton.  His father was James McCollum and his maternal mother was Kathy Plummer.  His early years were spent in Dubois.  At the age of 6, Rylee moved to Jackson Wyoming with his father, Jim, and his sisters, Cheyenne, Stephenie and Roice.  He attended Jackson Hole High School, where he competed as a wrestler, and was a 2019 graduate of Summit Innovations School in Jackson.

On Rylee’s 18th birthday he made that choice, to offer his service to the country.  Family members say becoming a Marine was a life-long goal for him.  He joined the Marines.  He graduated Marine Corps Boot Camp at Camp Pendleton, on 6-DEC 2019.  While he was at boot camp he met “Gigi” the woman who would become his wife.  His sister said, “He dreamed of one day becoming an American history teacher and a wrestling coach, passing down the same passions he picked up as a kid in Jackson.”

Shortly after his Marine Corps graduation Rylee and Gigi married on Valentine’s Day 2021 and were expecting a baby 22-SEP 2021. Rylee was excited to become a father.  His family expected that he would be home just in time to meet his new baby.  The newlyweds wanted the baby’s gender to be a surprise.


Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola was born 23-APR 2001 in Rancho Cucamonga, California.  His mother was Cheryl Rex.  He had one sister Olivia and two brothers: David and Branden.  His father David Dean Merola Sr. died in 2004.

Merola was a graduate of Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California.


Dylan Merola’s decision to go into the military was motivated by his two great-grandfathers who were Korean War veterans. Merola was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton, California.


The mission in Kabul was Merola’s inaugural overseas tour, upon return from which he had expected to buy his first car and apply to college studying engineering, according to his grandmother.

Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola died after a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport Kabul, Afghanistan. 26-AUG 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan.  He was 20.



"As a proud Marine, Lance Corporal Marine Corp Lance Cpl Kareem M. Nikoui and his unit put themselves in harms way in order to provide safety to others. That’s the definition of courage. That’s the embodiment of the Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis," Calvert said in a statement. "Through his brave actions, Lance Corporal Nikoui remained faithful to his fellow Marines, his country, and our citizens."


At least 18 U.S. service members were injured. It was the deadliest day for American forces in Afghanistan since August 2011. About 169 Afghan people died






Corpsman Maxton William Soviak was KIA on August 26th, 2021, by a suicide bomber at the Abbey Gate of the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. Max answered the call “Corpsman Up” to provide aid to a mother and child, it would be his last act of service before losing his life at 22 years old. Maxton was serving alongside his fellow Marines in the humanitarian effort to evacuate innocent civilians and allies from Afghanistan.


On August 26th, 2021, while at Abbey gate he along with 12 other service members as well as over 170 Afghans were killed by a suicide bomber. Maxton died doing what he felt passionate about. Serving his country regardless of who they were and where they were born, saving one person at a time. 


Ryan Knauss was a member of Company B, 9th Battalion, 8th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  Ryan was on his second deployment to Afghanistan. 


He had previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2017.


He died of his wounds after a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport Kabul, Afghanistan 26-AUG 2021. 


He was 23.  Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss was the sole Army soldier killed by the suicide bombing.  The other twelve killed belonged to the Marine Corps and Navy.  


Ryan, like many of the other casualties, had only been in the country for a week before his death.

Ryan left a young wife behind.  Alena said she and Ryan were high school sweethearts.  Ryan graduated from Gibbs, and she attended a rival school. The pair met when they worked together at a Fountain City Pizza Parlor when she was 15 years old.


Bless the families of our fallen troops, and fill their homes and their lives with Your strength and peace. In union with people of goodwill of every nation, embolden us to answer the call to work for peace and justice, and thus, seek an end to violence and conflict around the globe. We ask this through your name.


Dear lord please listen as I pray to you, And proudly defend the red, white and blue. I will always serve you and my country, And be the best person that I can be.


Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.


"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen."






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