Pentagon upgrades awards of 3 Marines for “combat heroism” after Abbey Gate attack in Kabul
Bizeconanalysis.com – The Pentagon upgrades awards of 3 Marines who displayed extraordinary courage during the August 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul. Five years after the ISIS-K suicide attack that killed 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghan civilians, retired Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan Eby, retired Lance Corporal Jordan Houston, and retired Corporal Michael Gretzon received upgraded medals recognizing their actions in the immediate aftermath of the blast.
At the time, U.S. forces were in the closing days of the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The three Marines were helping process evacuees at Hamid Karzai International Airport when a lone bomber detonated a device outside Abbey Gate. Despite the chaos, gunfire, and tear gas, each man continued working to protect wounded personnel and manage the crowd of fleeing civilians.
The Valor Device and Upgraded Citations
Eby and Houston were each presented the Bronze Star Medal with the valor device, while Gretzon received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with the valor device. The distinguishing valor device marks a specific act of combat heroism against an enemy force, setting it apart from medals awarded for general service. Before the upgrade, Houston and Eby had been approved for Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with combat devices, and Gretzon had been approved for a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a combat device.
Eby’s citation notes that he continued screening evacuees even as his platoon commander and half his platoon were wounded or killed. He assumed command, rallied remaining forces to reestablish security, and then worked feverishly to evacuate the injured. Houston, wounded and concussed amid gunfire and tear gas, disregarded his own injuries to drag multiple wounded Marines to safety. Gretzon maintained crowd control from an exposed position so that more critically wounded personnel could be evacuated first.
“Their fearless response represents the pinnacle of combat heroism. Simply put, valor.” — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, presenting the upgraded awards
The blast killed 13 service members: Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, Sgt. Nicole Gee, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Cpl. Daegan Page, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Maxton Soviak, and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss. Following an investigation, the chief investigator told reporters the attack “was not preventable and the leaders on the ground followed the proper measures.”
Hegseth established an Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel led by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell to conduct what he called “the most comprehensive military after-action review in modern history.” In a social-media update, Parnell noted the panel’s work continues, adding, “The deeper we look, the more there is to look at.” Hegseth said the review would be completed by year’s end. Separately, Congress created an Afghan War Commission in 2021 to examine lessons from the two-decade conflict that ended with the Taliban retaking power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the medals upgraded?
The Pentagon upgrades awards of 3 Marines because their individual acts of heroism—continuing to work amid active gunfire, tear gas, and mass casualties—met the higher standard for the valor device rather than the combat device originally approved.
What is the difference between a combat device and a valor device?
A combat device accompanies a medal earned through general service in a combat zone. A valor device is reserved for a specific, documented act of heroism against an enemy force, making it a more selective distinction.
When did the Abbey Gate attack occur?
The ISIS-K suicide bombing at Abbey Gate, Hamid Karzai International Airport, took place in August 2021 during the final phase of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.