Pentagon honors Marines for bravery at Kabul's Abbey Gate bombing anniversary
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell presented upgraded valor awards to Marines who defended Abbey Gate during the 2021 Kabul airport suicide bombing, marking its fifth anniversary.
During a ceremony at the Pentagon, Sean Parnell announced that Marines who served at the Abbey Gate of Kabul’s airport during the 2021 withdrawal would receive upgraded valor awards, describing their conduct as precisely what the highest decorations are meant to recognize. The decision came after Parnell examined eyewitness accounts and consulted individuals who were on site during the suicide bombing that claimed 13 U.S. service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians.
He emphasized that the medals reflect an unvarnished record of courage and urged the recipients to wear them with pride. The event coincided with the fifth anniversary of the attack, and President Donald Trump honored the 13 Marines who died, proclaiming August 26, 2026 a national day of remembrance. Earlier this year, War Secretary Pete Hegseth had selected Parnell to head the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel, linking the honors to broader assessments of the withdrawal.
Why it matters
The ceremony acknowledges the sacrifice of U.S. Marines and reinforces national remembrance of a tragic event.
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