The Cause

SFC David L. McDowell from California served with the 2nd Ranger Battalion – An Army Ranger Sergeant First Class, he was killed on April 29 in a firefight with Taliban forces in Bastion in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province, southwest of Kabul. McDowell, 30, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Ft. Lewis, Wash. He was serving his seventh deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan.

He was a member of the “Darkhorse,” 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton, California. Abbate served three tours of duty in Iraq, Japan, and Afghanistan, where he was killed in action on Dec. 2, 2010.

Nicole Leeann Gee was born May 1, 1998 in Vail, Colorado. She passed away at 23 years old, in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 26th, 2021. She met her husband, Jarod Gee while in high school, and they were married in a private ceremony in August 2016. They were stationed together at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where they lived with their two dogs and close friends. Nicole entered active duty in the Marine Corps in August 2017. She went through recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, School of Infantry East in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aviation Accession and Primary Military Occupational Specialty School in Pensacola, Florida, and Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School in 29 Palms, California. She worked as a ground electronics transmission systems maintainer, and was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24.

Nicole’s military awards and accomplishments include the Purple Heart Medal, Combat

Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NATO Medal, Expert Rifle Qualification Third Award, becoming a Black Belt Martial Arts Instructor, setting weightlifting records at Al-Jaber Air Base, and of course, perfect scores in Combat Fitness Tests. She deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in February 2021. Her last stop was a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan, where she assisted in evacuating more than 100,000 refugees.

Nicole was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, aunt, niece, cousin, granddaughter, friend, and a hero to the countless people whom she helped. She will always be remembered for her bravery, kindness, love, dedication, and selfless sacrifice in service to her country.

Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum was born 26-FEB 2001 in Riverton. His father was James McCollum and his maternal mother was Kathy Plummer. His early years were spent in Dubois. At the age of 6, Rylee moved to Jackson Wyoming with his father, Jim, and his sisters, Cheyenne, Stephenie, and Roice. He attended Jackson Hole High School, where he competed as a wrestler, and was a 2019 graduate of Summit Innovations School in Jackson.

On Rylee’s 18th birthday he made the choice, to offer his service to the country. Family members say becoming a Marine was a life-long goal for him. He joined the Marines. He graduated from Marine Corps Boot Camp at Camp Pendleton, on 6-DEC 2019. While he was at boot camp he met “Gigi” the woman who would become his wife. His sister said, “He dreamed of one day becoming an American history teacher and a wrestling coach, passing down the same passions he picked up as a kid in Jackson.”

Shortly after his Marine Corps graduation Rylee and Gigi married on Valentine’s Day 2021 and were expecting a baby on 22-SEP 2021. Rylee was excited to become a father. His family expected that he would be home just in time to meet his new baby. The newlyweds wanted the baby’s gender to be a surprise.

Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum deployed to Jordan in April of 2021, with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. His battalion’s deployment to the Middle East as part of the Special Purpose–Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Crisis Response–Central Command was his first deployment.

He deployed to Afghanistan and died after a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport Kabul, Afghanistan. 26-AUG 2021. He was 20.

20-year-old Marine Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola was a beloved son, brother, grandson, great-grandson, nephew, great friend, and a brave soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice at the Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the Afghanistan evacuation. Merola was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton, California. The mission in Kabul was Merola’s inaugural overseas tour, upon return from which he had expected to buy his first car and apply to college studying engineering, according to his grandmother. Merola’s decision to go into the military was motivated by his two great-grandfathers who were Korean War veterans. Merola was a graduate of Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Lance Corporal Merola was honored at his alma mater’s first football game of the season by attendees wearing red, white, and blue.

Kareem Nikoui was a young United States Marine Corps officer stationed in Kabul from California. He was killed in the Kabul bombing on August 26, 2021. Kareem was one of the 13 United States Marines and military personnel killed in the brutal attack. He was only 20 years old at the time of his death. Kareem was a standout student at Norco High School who graduated in 2019. He joined JROTC after finishing his high school studies. He then began his professional career in the United States Marine Corps.

Marine Corps Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo 25, a member of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Naval Support Activity, Bahrain, and that brigade’s Female Engagement Team was screening women and children at the Abbey Gate of the Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan died on Thursday, August 26, 2021, along with her 9 Marine Brothers, 1 Marine Sister, 1 US Navy Corpsman and 1 US Army soldier from a terrorist attack. In addition, nearly 200 Afghan men, women, and children died that day. Her family honors the US service men and women who were injured in the attack and pray for their quick recovery.

Corporal Humberto Sanchez was born on December 2, 1998 in Logansport, Indiana to Coral Briseño and Humberto Sanchez.  He was the first of his family to be born in the United States, and the first to serve in the U.S. Military.  Corporal Sanchez was an excellent athlete.  He enjoyed playing football, running track, wrestling, and his favorite sport was soccer.  His mother describes him as a cactus; hard and scary on the outside, but really soft on the inside.  Corporal Sanchez was also a devoted student.  Through middle school and high school, he excelled in several honors and advanced placement classes.  In 2017, Corporal Sanchez graduated from Logansport High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.  After graduating from Marine Basic Training and the Marine School of Infantry, Corporal Sanchez was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment in Camp Pendleton, California.  

In February 2021 Corporal Sanchez began his third deployment.  His battalion was assigned to the serve as the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) for Central Command.  Near the end of the deployment, the SPMAGTF was tasked with flying to Kabul, Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy, U.S. citizens, special immigrant visa applicants, and Afghans that had worked with U.S. personnel in the fight against terrorism.  On August 26, 2021, while conducting non-combatant evacuation operations from the Kabul International Airport, the SPMAGTF received intelligence of an impending bomb threat.  Corporal Sanchez was killed in action as he was moving civilians to safety.  

Corporal Sanchez’s awards include the Congressional Gold Medal, Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Schmitz, Lance Corporal Jared Marcus of the U.S. Marine Corps tragically died August 26, 2021 while deployed to Afghanistan. Jared, along with 12 other US service members — four of whom were in his squad — was killed in action while assisting with the heroic evacuation efforts that safely transported over 100,000 civilians out of the country from August 15 to August 30. He was 20 years old. Jared was born February 25, 2001 to Sue Livingston-Schmitz and Mark Joseph Schmitz who lived in St. Charles, MO during that time. After graduating 8th grade in 2015, Jared made the decision to move in with his father Mark and his family in O’Fallon, MO and attend Fort Zumwalt South High School. It was there he would formally commit to becoming a Marine, signing enlistment papers during his senior year. He graduated in 2019 and soon after began the 13-week Marine Corps Recruit Training at MCRD in San Diego, CA, officially completing training and becoming a Marine in October of that same year. Being a Marine was ultimately Jared’s proudest accomplishment, but he made space in his life for his many friends and interests. He loved goofing with friends and cheering on the Blues (LGB!). Oh, and video games of course.

(1972-2020):
David “Dave” Lee Hall, was one of the youngest men to become a Navy SEAL. Dave graduated from BUD/S Training Class 189. He completed four platoons at SEAL Team FIVE and was known for his wit, performance, high standards, and love for protecting his country. Dave spent five years at a Special Mission Unit and deployed multiple times to Middle East combat zones. Dave continued to work in the Defense Industry where he was able to use his unique skills, consulting for counter-insurgency operations. Dave passed away on October 12, 2020.