Hegseth upgrades Abbey Gate Marines' valor awards after 5-year delay: 'Those days are over'
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth upgraded valor awards Wednesday for three Marines who risked their lives to save others during the deadly Abbey Gate bombing, saying their original award submissions were "inappropriately" downgraded after one of the darkest days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
"For half a decade, this building allowed bureaucratic caution, or maybe politics, to stand in the way of proper recognition," Hegseth said during a Pentagon ceremony marking exactly five years since the Aug. 26, 2021, terrorist attack.
"Today, on this milestone anniversary, we declare that those days are over."
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Hegseth presented upgraded Bronze Star Medals with "V" devices for valor to Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby and Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston. Cpl. Michael Gretzon received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a "V" device for valor.
"For too long, leadership in this capital city failed to match that frontline courage with administrative backbone, inappropriately downgrading the original award submissions that these men rightfully deserved," Hegseth said.
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Eby, then a staff sergeant, was screening evacuees from an exposed position when the suicide bomber struck. With his platoon commander and half his platoon wounded or killed, Eby took command, rallied his remaining Marines to establish security and helped evacuate the wounded, according to his award citation.
His actions "undoubtedly saved the lives of many," the citation said.
Houston was roughly 32 feet from the blast and knocked unconscious. He awoke with shrapnel wounds but remained in an exposed position to cover fellow Marines and provide lifesaving treatment to those more seriously wounded, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith said.
Houston concealed his injuries because he feared being taken out of the fight and later removed shrapnel from his own body before receiving medical treatment.
"I don't know where we find such men, but I'm not sure we deserve them," Commandant Gen. Smith said.
Gretzon was also struck by shrapnel, suffering an arm wound severe enough that he applied his own tourniquet. After medical personnel bandaged him, he immediately returned to his squad and continued helping until his platoon sergeant personally ordered him to the casualty collection point, Smith said.
The ISIS-K suicide bombing killed 13 American service members as U.S. forces carried out the final evacuation from Afghanistan.
The fallen were Marine Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola and Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui; Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak; and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.
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"Today our hearts remain anchored to the memory of the 13 warriors who gave their last measure of devotion on August 26th of 2021," the ceremony's chaplain said, asking for continued comfort for their Gold Star families.
The award upgrades come as the War Department's Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel continues examining the attack and withdrawal.
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Sean Parnell, who chairs the panel, said Wednesday that investigators recently recovered "highly relevant classified documents," material he said should have been disclosed but was "stashed and hidden away in safes where they would not be found."
After investigators examined the material, Parnell said, "it became clear why someone tried to hide them."
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Parnell did not disclose the documents' contents because they are classified, and the War Department has not publicly identified who allegedly concealed them.
Hegseth said the broader Afghanistan review is ongoing and that the department expects to have a full report to provide by the end of the calendar year.
"Marines, on this fifth anniversary, your valor is now officially, permanently and properly recognized," Hegseth said. "You represent the very heart of peace through strength."
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.