When a member of Afghanistan’s Islamic State affiliate triggered a suicide bomb outside Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport five years ago, the troops from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines lived up to their nickname: the Professionals.
Although he was wounded in the attack that killed 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghans, Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston remained at his exposed position and provided cover for his fellow Marines.
“He ignored his injuries, choosing instead to provide life-saving treatment to the Marines around him who were more grievously wounded than he was,” Gen. Eric M. Smith, commandant of the Marine Corps, said Wednesday during a Pentagon ceremony to honor Lance Cpl. Houston and two other Marines receiving belated recognition of their valor.
“He continued assisting with casualties, all the while concealing his own wounds for fear of being taken out of the fight,” Gen. Smith said. “Later that night, he quietly removed the shrapnel himself before receiving treatment from medical personnel.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for valor to Lance Cpl. Houston and Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby. He awarded Cpl. Michael Gretzon the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” device.
Sgt. Eby was coordinating the refugee screening effort at Abbey Gate when the suicide bomber detonated the device. He exposed himself to further danger while reestablishing a security perimeter. Among those injured was the platoon commander.
“With security set, he began providing life-saving aid to other Marines,” Gen. Smith said. “Sgt. Eby immediately took charge of the platoon and directed casualty evacuations while supervising the security posture at Abbey Gate.”
Cpl. Gretzon was assisting with crowd control when the bomb went off. He was injured in the blast and applied a tourniquet to his arm. Despite his injuries, Cpl. Gretzon remained at his post until he was ordered to receive medical attention, Gen. Smith said.
“Gretzon returned to help his squad until his platoon sergeant, Eby, ordered him to a casualty collection point,” Gen. Smith said.
The Abbey Gate attack happened during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending America’s 20-year attempt to establish democracy there. U.S. military personnel were deployed to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to provide perimeter security during the harried withdrawal.
The U.S. and its coalition partners evacuated more than 123,000 people from Kabul between Aug. 14 and Aug. 31, 2021.
“Each of today’s awardees demonstrated courage under extreme duress, under extreme personal risk,” Gen. Smith said. “They remained committed to the mission and selflessly devoted to one another.”
Mr. Hegseth said the mission handed to the Marines at Abbey Gate was fraught with risk even before the suicide bomb was triggered.
“They stood in the direct blast zone with minimal cover, fully aware of an imminent suicide threat. They stood on that line because they knew that their brothers in arms and thousands of innocents depended on them,” Mr. Hegseth said. “What you did at Abbey Gate was not just a display of exceptional tactical skill and bravery; it was the very definition of the warrior spirit that we’re reviving here.”
Mr. Hegseth said it shouldn’t have taken five years for the three Marines to be recognized for their valor that day at Abbey Gate.
“For too long, leadership in this capital city has failed to match front-line courage with administrative backbone,” he said. “A military that downplays its front-line heroes to avoid uncomfortable political truths only projects weakness.”
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