Lejeune Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee among casualties identified in attack in Afghanistan
Matt Hinson
After notifying next of kin Friday, the Department of Defense announced the names of the 13 service members who were killed in an attack in Kabul on Thursday afternoon.
A Camp Lejeune Marine, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, was among the casualties.
Gee was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, per a release from the United States Marine Corp.
The service members were supporting non-combatant evacuation operations in the area as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
Per the release, "The Marine Corps mourns the deaths of our 11 Marines, and joins together in grief with the Navy and Army over the loss of our teammates."
"These fallen heroes answered the call to go into harm's way to do the honorable work of helping others. We are proud of their service and deeply saddened by their loss." – Gen. David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps.
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The victims were identified as Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, and Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, who were all assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.
Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo was assigned to 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Naval Support Activity Bahrain.
On Friday, a moment of silence was held at the Freedom Fountain by the Onslow Civic Affairs Committee and the Onslow County Board of Commissioners.
At Friday's ceremony, Chairman of the Onslow County Board of Commissioners Jack Bright said it was "a dark day in American history."