Marines' Valor Upgraded for Afghanistan Heroics

0:00It's April 22, I'm Cory with the story. This is US News Today, driven by AI and Bill4America. The Pentagon just upgraded Valor Awards for a squad of US Marines who held the line at Abby Gate during the chaotic Afghanistan pullout. These guys from Company G, Second Battalion, First Marines, got their original honors bumped up after a review showed they were unfairly downgraded. It honors the insane risks they took under enemy fire to save lives. This all went down on August 26, 2021. Right when a suicide bomber hit Hamid Karzai International Airport. 13 American service members died, along with tons of Afghans civilians, but these Marines stuck to their posts with barely any cover. They knew an attack was coming, but kept the evacuation flowing for thousands of Americans and allies. Folks like Under Secretary Anthony Tata and former Marine officer Stu Scheller pushed hard for this review. They were especially championed it to make sure these heroes got the props they deserved.

1:02It's a big step in fixing what the Pentagon calls and injustice from rush decisions back then. The Afghanistan withdrawal special review panel dug into this as part of a wider look at the evacuation mess. Officials say the upgrades matched the real bravery shown on the ground, and they're dead set on not letting paperwork bury battlefield guts. Formal awards ceremonies are coming soon, and the panel's still grinding away to hold the folks accountable and Dodge repeats down the road.