Awards for Valor
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth presented three retired Marines with upgraded awards for valor Aug. 26, 2026, during a ceremony at the Pentagon. Retired Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Gretzon, left, was presented with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor for continued crowd control from an exposed position following the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bomber attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, at then-Hamid Karzai International Airport's Abbey Gate. Retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby was presented with the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for rallying his remaining forces following the blast and establishing security before working to evacuate injured Marines. And retired Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston was presented with the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for helping multiple Marines get to safety amid gunfire and clouds of tear gas following the blast, despite having sustained injuries. The suicide bomber attack killed 13 service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians.
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