Secretary of War Pete Hegseth presented three retired Marines with upgraded awards for valor today during a ceremony at the Pentagon.
The upgrade was as a result of their heroic actions immediately following the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bomber attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, at then-Hamid Karzai International Airport's Abbey Gate, which killed 13 service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians.
Hegseth presented the Bronze Star Medal with Valor to retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby, who rallied his remaining forces following the blast and established security before working to evacuate injured Marines. He also presented the Bronze Star Medal with Valor to retired Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston, who helped multiple Marines get to safety amid gunfire and clouds of tear gas following the blast, despite having sustained his own injuries. Finally, he presented the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor to retired Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Gretzon, who continued to conduct crowd control from an exposed position following the explosion.
At the time, the three Marines were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines.
"These three Marines embody a timeless truth written in the book of Proverbs: 'The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.' On that chaotic day, you men were as bold as lions," Hegseth told the awardees at the outset of his remarks.
"When the wicked sought to sow terror, these men stood as lions at the gate — bold in their purpose, fierce in their resolve and unbreakable in their courage," he continued.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member