A long-overdue correction recognizes the bravery of three Marines who held their ground at the Abbey Gate during a deadly bombing at Kabul’s airport while evacuating U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Their actions under fire have now been formally honored with upgraded valor awards, five years after the attack that disrupted the chaotic final days of the withdrawal. The decision comes as part of a broader review of military decorations tied to the Afghanistan evacuation, where many service members faced extreme danger amid collapsing security. Details on the specific circumstances of their service and the nature of their awards remain under discussion.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday upgraded the valor awards of three Marines who guarded the Abbey Gate at the Hamid Karzai International Airport when a bomb went off as U.S. service members were evacuating from Afghanistan five years ago. The Marines — Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby, Cpl. Michael Gretzon, Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston —were...
