Barr Votes to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Thirteen Fallen American Heroes

Press Release

Tonight, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) voted for and the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation awarding a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to each of the thirteen fallen U.S. military servicemembers killed in a terrorist attack at the Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26, 2021. These fallen heroes were defending Americans and our Afghanistan allies who were evacuating Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of the country.

"Thirteen heroic military servicemembers gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that American citizens and our Afghan allies could escape the threat of the Taliban, ISIS, and other terrorist actors in Afghanistan during the withdrawal. I proudly cosponsored and voted tonight for the bill awarding these patriots the Congressional Gold Medal. The legacy of these American heroes will never be forgotten," said Congressman Barr.

This legislation will now go to the U.S. Senate for consideration. The names of the fallen servicemembers receiving the posthumous Congressional Gold Medal are below:

Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio
Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California
Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas
Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, Jackson, Wyoming
Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Missouri
Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California
Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah
Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska
Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, of Roseville, California
Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, Logansport, Indiana
Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, Lawrence, Massachusetts and
Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee

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