Our Fallen Soldiers Are Home

A solemn scene at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware yesterday as President and First Lady Biden received the remains of the 13 service members killed last Thursday in a suicide bombing at Kabul Airport.

"The 13 service members that we lost were heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others," Mr. Biden said in a statement. "Their bravery and selflessness has enabled more than 117,000 people at risk to reach safety thus far."

The dead ranged in age from 20 to 31 and include Rylee J. McCollum, a 20-year-old Marine from Wyoming who had been expecting his first child in three weeks. Another – 23-year-old Nicole Gee – posted a photo on Instagram that showed her holding a baby at Kabul airport. In her caption, she noted: "I love my job.” The names were released 24 hours after families of the deceased were notified.

For the Marine Corps, the deceased are:

• Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover of Salt Lake City, Utah. He was 31. In a statement, his father described him as "the best son that two parents could ever ask for” adding that he was a "loving, caring, big ole teddy bear. He was always the one to step up and defend the little guy. His heart was as big as can be.”
• Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo of Lawrence, Massachusetts. She was 25.
• Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee of Sacramento, California. She was 23.
• Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez of Indio, California, who was 22. He grew up in Southern California, with both of his parents working for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. He had planned to follow in their footsteps.
• Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page of Omaha, Nebraska. He was 23. Enlisting after high school, He was a longtime Boy Scout and his family says "he enjoyed playing hockey for Omaha Westside in the Omaha Hockey Club and was a diehard Chicago Blackhawks fan."
• Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez of Logansport, Indiana. He was 22.
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza of Rio Bravo, Texas – who was 20.
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz of St. Charles, Missouri. He was also 20. His family says his “entire world was the Marine Corps.”
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum of Jackson, Wyoming. As we noted, he was 20 and expecting his first child.
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola of Rancho Cucamonga, California. Also 20.
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui of Norco, California. Also 20.

For the Navy, the deceased is:

• Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak of Berlin Heights, Ohio – who was 22. In his last Facetime call with his mother, he was telling her goodbye and after she told him to be safe, he said “Don't worry mom, my guys got me they won't let anything happen to me.” He and his guys...died together.

For the Army, the deceased is:

• Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss [[NOSS]] of Corryton, Tennessee. He was 23 and enlisted right after graduating high school.