13 Medals for the 13 Heroes

Not everyone will be remembered as a great hero, but those that are will live forever.

On August 26, 2021, 13 American heroes made the ultimate sacrifice in Kabul. That day, these 13 service members became bound together for eternity by laying down their lives for their children.

There is no doubt: The names of these 13 heroes appear alongside those of other warriors whose lives were cut short for the sake of our great country.

They put on their uniform to serve our nation with bravery and dignity, and they passed with honor and virtue. They perished while performing their duty, and for the nation they loved. They died for women and children as the ruthless Taliban terrorists surrounded the Kabul airport.

Today, Congress posthumously awarded each of these 13 heroes the Congressional Gold Medal, but these medals are hardly what these soldiers truly deserve. What these 13 young men and women deserved were strong leaders who would not be intimidated, but Joe Biden and Kamala Harris failed that test.

I met these 13 special families and my colleagues today under the Capitol Rotunda in remembrance of the sacrifice and the price paid by their loved ones. That is the least I can do for these family members.

Please join me in honoring each of them, along with all those who have died in service of our nation:

• Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss
• Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
• Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez
• Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
• Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page
• Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo
• Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
• Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover

A grateful nation will never forget them.