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." WOUNDED MARINES RELIVE THE HARROWING KABUL AIRPORT ATTACK IN EXPLOSIVE NEW FOX NATION DOCUMENTARY Hegseth presented upgraded Bronze Star Medals with "V" devices for valor to Gunnery Sgt.
Jonathan Eby and Lance 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.
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT JAMES CAPERS JR. SAYS RECOGNITION IS BITTERSWEET AFTER LOSING 'SO MUCH' 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.
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. 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. ARMY VET LAWMAKER MARKS ABBEY GATE ANNIVERSARY WITH BLISTERING MESSAGE FOR BIDEN-HARRIS: 'ABJECT FAILURE' 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.
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