U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Brian Mast (R-FL), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Lisa McClain (R-MI), and Seth Moulton (D-MA) joined more than 150 fellow lawmakers to unveil a bipartisan bill that would posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 United States military service members recently killed in Afghanistan during America’s withdrawal from the country.
“These brave men and women gave their last full measure of devotion to save American lives and evacuate Afghan refugees to safety,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers said on Tuesday. “These soldiers were heroes made of the moral fabric America is known for, and their sacrifice must never be forgotten.”
Specifically, H.R. 5142, which was introduced on Aug. 31 by Rep. McClain, would commemorate the U.S. service members who perished in Afghanistan on Aug. 26 during the evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, according to the text of the bill.
“These heroic men and women are gone far too soon and we must honor them for their bravery in helping U.S. citizens and Afghan allies safely evacuate Afghanistan,” said Rep. McClain. “We will always remember their service and pay tribute to their sacrifice.”
If enacted, H.R. 5142 would award the Congressional Gold Medal to Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan Page, Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, Cpl. David Lee Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Hospitalman Maxton Soviak, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss.
“There are 13 more Gold Star families this week and that is a heartbreaking fact, but they should take comfort knowing that their sons and daughters did not give their lives in vain,” Rep. Mast said. “They gave the fullest measure of devotion to our country, our flag, their brothers and sisters in arms, and the innocent lives they were protecting. That is something that Congress, and all Americans, should honor.”
Rep. Bice added that it is her hope “these Congressional Gold Medals will serve as a reminder to all of the valor and conviction displayed by these soldiers and the honor that they have brought to our country.”
Rep. Joyce agreed, saying he was “devastated” for the families of the fallen. “These heroes made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their fellow Americans and our vulnerable Afghan allies as they fled the Taliban,” he said. “Their deaths leave parents without children, children without parents, and spouses without their loved ones. United, our nation weeps for them.”
Rep. Reschenthaler, an Iraq War veteran, said he is “proud” to join his colleagues in introducing H.R. 5142. “These service members put themselves in danger to help American citizens and our allies safely evacuate,” said the congressman. “Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
Also calling the fallen service members “heroes,” Rep. Moulton said their legacy “will be the thousands of Afghans who are alive today because these brave men and women put their lives on the line to give them a ticket to freedom.”