kabul kia

6 U.S. Service Members Identified After HKIA Suicide Bombing

Five Marines and a Navy Corpsman killed during the attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26, 2021 have been identified. As a result of the attack, 13 U.S. servicemembers have been marked KIA, however all identities have not been released. At this time, the only information we have on the additional seven service members is their branch of service; five additional Marines and two Army soldiers.


The information below provides information pertaining to the currently identified servicemembers:


Maxton "Max" Soviak Maxton Soviak
Age: 22
Branch of Service: United States Navy
Hometown: Berlin Heights, Ohio
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


Maxton Soviak was a 2017 graduate from Edison High School in Milan, Ohio. While in high school, Soviak was recognized as an athlete who played football and excelled in his academic studies. Prior to joining the service, Soviak worked as a lifeguard and a maintenance technician. After the incident which occurred on Aug. 26, fellow servicemembers spoke highly of Soviak stating he was a top notch corpsman.


Kareem Nikoui

Kareem Nikoui
Age: 20
Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Hometown: Norco, California
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


Kareem Nikoui was a 2019 graduate from Norco High School. Upon graduation, Kareem joined the United States Marine Corps, where he would later be stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. On the weekends, Kareem's family mentioned he and about ten other Marines would spend time at their family home. Kareem's father spoke of his son highly, stating, "He really loved that Marine Corps family" and that he was devoted to the Marine Corps. His father also mentioned Kareem intended on making a full twenty-year career out of his service before it was tragically cut short.


Rylee McCollum

Rylee McCollum
Age: 20
Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Hometown: Bondurant, Wyoming
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


Rylee McCollum was recognized as a determined infantryman. After graduating high school in 2019, Rylee joined the United States Marine Corps to serve his country honorably. With intentions of exiting the military, Rylee wanted to become a wrestling coach and a history teacher. The day Rylee was killed in action marked three weeks until he was to become a father to his first born child. His family and friends later described him as a joyful, tough, kind, loving kid who made an impact on everyone he met.


Jared Schmitz

Jared Schmitz
Age: 20
Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Hometown: St. Charles County, Missouri
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


Jared Schmitz was a 2019 high school graduate, who later graduated from Marine Corps boot camp in October of 2020. Mark Schmitz, Jared's father, later spoke to St. Louis Today radio stating that serving in the Armed Forces was something Jared always wanted to do. Prior to the suicide attacks on August 26, Jared had already been overseas in Jordan. He was one of six-thousand troops deployed to assist with the evacuation at HKIA.


Hunter Lopez

Hunter Lopez
Age: 22
Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Hometown: Riverside County, California
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


Hunter Lopez, son of Riverside Sheriff's Department Captain Herman Lopez and Deputy Sheriff Alicia Lopez, was a devoted Marine who served his country honorably with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. Prior to joining the service, Hunter was a Riverside Sheriff’s Explorer Scout with the Palm Desert Station from September 2014 to August 2017. Hunter's parents later stated that upon his return home, he wanted to exit the military and become a Riverside County Deputy.


David Lee Espinoza David Lee Espinoza
Age: 20
Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Hometown: Laredo, Texas
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


David Lee Espinoza was a recent graduate from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Laredo. Prior to joining the service, David resided in Rio Bravo the entirety of his life. David's family spoke highly of him, stating that he was dedicated to the Marine Corps. David leaves behind a brother, mother, and stepfather.


austin marino

Published 2 years ago

Five Marines and a Navy Corpsman killed during the attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26, 2021 have been identified. As a result of the attack, 13 U.S. servicemembers have been marked KIA, however all identities have not been released. At this time, the only information we have on the additional seven service members is their branch of service; five additional Marines and two Army soldiers.


The information below provides information pertaining to the currently identified servicemembers:


Maxton "Max" Soviak Maxton Soviak
Age: 22
Branch of Service: United States Navy
Hometown: Berlin Heights, Ohio
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


Maxton Soviak was a 2017 graduate from Edison High School in Milan, Ohio. While in high school, Soviak was recognized as an athlete who played football and excelled in his academic studies. Prior to joining the service, Soviak worked as a lifeguard and a maintenance technician. After the incident which occurred on Aug. 26, fellow servicemembers spoke highly of Soviak stating he was a top notch corpsman.


Kareem Nikoui

Kareem Nikoui
Age: 20
Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Hometown: Norco, California
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


Kareem Nikoui was a 2019 graduate from Norco High School. Upon graduation, Kareem joined the United States Marine Corps, where he would later be stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. On the weekends, Kareem's family mentioned he and about ten other Marines would spend time at their family home. Kareem's father spoke of his son highly, stating, "He really loved that Marine Corps family" and that he was devoted to the Marine Corps. His father also mentioned Kareem intended on making a full twenty-year career out of his service before it was tragically cut short.


Rylee McCollum

Rylee McCollum
Age: 20
Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Hometown: Bondurant, Wyoming
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


Rylee McCollum was recognized as a determined infantryman. After graduating high school in 2019, Rylee joined the United States Marine Corps to serve his country honorably. With intentions of exiting the military, Rylee wanted to become a wrestling coach and a history teacher. The day Rylee was killed in action marked three weeks until he was to become a father to his first born child. His family and friends later described him as a joyful, tough, kind, loving kid who made an impact on everyone he met.


Jared Schmitz

Jared Schmitz
Age: 20
Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Hometown: St. Charles County, Missouri
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


Jared Schmitz was a 2019 high school graduate, who later graduated from Marine Corps boot camp in October of 2020. Mark Schmitz, Jared's father, later spoke to St. Louis Today radio stating that serving in the Armed Forces was something Jared always wanted to do. Prior to the suicide attacks on August 26, Jared had already been overseas in Jordan. He was one of six-thousand troops deployed to assist with the evacuation at HKIA.


Hunter Lopez

Hunter Lopez
Age: 22
Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Hometown: Riverside County, California
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


Hunter Lopez, son of Riverside Sheriff's Department Captain Herman Lopez and Deputy Sheriff Alicia Lopez, was a devoted Marine who served his country honorably with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. Prior to joining the service, Hunter was a Riverside Sheriff’s Explorer Scout with the Palm Desert Station from September 2014 to August 2017. Hunter's parents later stated that upon his return home, he wanted to exit the military and become a Riverside County Deputy.


David Lee Espinoza David Lee Espinoza
Age: 20
Branch of Service: United States Marine Corps
Hometown: Laredo, Texas
KIA: August 26, 2021 - Kabul, Afghanistan


David Lee Espinoza was a recent graduate from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Laredo. Prior to joining the service, David resided in Rio Bravo the entirety of his life. David's family spoke highly of him, stating that he was dedicated to the Marine Corps. David leaves behind a brother, mother, and stepfather.


austin marino

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