Pentagon Honors Marines for Heroism During Abbey Gate Attack

By August 26, 2026, CBS News reported that the Pentagon had upgraded awards for three Marines involved in the Abbey Gate attack in Kabul. Five years after a suicide bombing claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members, these Marines received recognition for their actions amidst the chaos.

In the final days of the U.S. military’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, service members worked at Hamid Karzai International Airport. An ISIS-K suicide bomber detonated explosives outside Abbey Gate, killing 13 Americans and 170 Afghan civilians.

Retired Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan Eby, retired Lance Corporal Jordan Houston, and retired Corporal Michael Gretzon were present during the attack. Despite the turmoil, they helped care for the wounded and continued to assist evacuees.

Awards and Recognitions

Eby and Houston received the Bronze Star Medal with a valor device, while Gretzon was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a valor device. These valor devices are for specific acts of bravery against enemy forces. Initially, Houston and Eby were to receive Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with combat devices, and Gretzon was set to receive a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a combat device.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised their actions as the “pinnacle of combat heroism.” During the ceremony, he emphasized their fearless response.

Details of the Courageous Acts

Eby’s citation highlighted his leadership in maintaining security after losing his platoon commander and others to the bombing. He took charge and helped evacuate the injured. Houston, despite his injuries from gunfire and tear gas, rescued multiple Marines. His citation credited him with saving fellow Marines’ lives.

Gretzon courageously managed crowd control from a dangerous position, allowing for safe evacuation of the critically wounded, thus saving lives.

The Aftermath and Investigation

The attack claimed 13 service members’ lives, including Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover and Sgt. Nicole Gee. A subsequent investigation determined the attack was unpreventable and that ground leaders took necessary measures during the event.

The Pentagon established the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel, led by Sean Parnell, to conduct a thorough military after-action review. Hegseth assured that the review will conclude by the year’s end.

In addition, Congress set up the Afghan War Commission in 2021 to review the war and present findings and suggestions for future conflicts. The commission aims to extract lessons from the conflict that ended in 2021 with the Taliban’s return to power.