00:00Today is August 26th, 2026, and as was mentioned exactly five years ago, at a dusty exposed
00:08checkpoint in Kabul called Abbey Gate, the world witnessed the absolute best of America
00:14standing in the gap to defend our country and those they serve alongside during one
00:21of the darkest strategic hours.
00:23These three Marines embody a timeless truth written in the book of Proverbs.
00:29The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
00:37On that chaotic day, you men were bold as lions.
00:42When the wicked sought to sow terror, these men stood as lions at that gate, bold in their
00:48purpose, fierce in their resolve, and unbreakable in their courage.
00:52Yet, for half a decade, this building allowed bureaucratic caution, or maybe politics, to
01:01stand in the way of proper recognition.
01:04Today, on this milestone anniversary, we declare that those days are over.
01:09True national readiness and our core strategic mission to achieve peace through strength do
01:15not begin simply with weapons systems or budgets.
01:18It starts with the sacred trust between the War Department and the warriors we send into
01:27harm's way.
01:29Peace through strength means our adversaries, yes, they fear our resolve, but they cannot fear
01:35our resolve if our own warfighters, if our own Marines, do not trust that the department
01:41will stand by them in the hour of their greatest need.
01:45And today, at least in part, we restore that trust.
01:52Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan Eby, Corporal Michael Gretzen, and Lance Corporal Jordan Houston.
02:01Gentlemen, Marines, welcome.
02:05Today, we're here to look you in the eye and to deliver the recognition you earned five years
02:12ago, because what you did at Abbey Gate was not just a display of exceptional tactical
02:18skill and bravery.
02:20It was the very definition of the warrior spirit that we're reviving here and that preserves
02:25our nation and underpins our national defense.
02:28The mission these Marines were given was almost unfathomably unpredictable, difficult, and fraught
02:38with an unknown amount of risk, yet known at the same time, which is sort of the worst
02:43duality.
02:44And they stood in the direct blast zone with minimal cover, fully aware of an eminent suicide
02:52threat.
02:54Yet they stayed on that line because they knew that their brothers-in-arms and thousands
03:01of innocents depended on them.
03:05For too long, leadership in this capital city failed to match that frontline courage with
03:11administrative backbone, inappropriately downgrading the original award submissions that these men
03:18rightfully deserved.
03:20You see, a military that downplays its frontline heroes to avoid uncomfortable political truths
03:27only projects weakness.
03:31The world watches how we treat our heroes.
03:35When they see a United States that fiercely defends, champions, and unties the hands of its warfighters,
03:43a country that corrects injustices, and honors valor at the point of friction, they see an
03:50ironclad resolve of an unbreakable republic.
03:55By upgrading these awards, we are stating clearly that America's warriors will be fiercely supported,
04:03and our military's lethal edge will not be compromised by desk-bound bureaucracy or lawyers in the cheap
04:10seats.
04:12There's no finer example of that raw, unyielding courage than what occurred when these three men
04:18and others they saved were pushed to the absolute limit.
04:24When the threat materialized, these three Marines did not flinch.
04:29They held the line when everything else was fractured, when 13 souls were lost.
04:36Rather than seeking cover, they stepped forward to secure the perimeter.
04:40They kept their fellow Marines focused and pulled the wounded to safety.
04:44Under direct fire, they risked their lives to protect their brothers and complete the evacuation.
04:53Their fearless response represents the pinnacle of combat heroism, simply put, valor.
05:00They did not wait for orders to act.
05:03They relied on their training, their instinct, and their devotion to one another.
05:09A nation that relies on such extraordinary heroism must have leadership bold enough to simply honor it.
05:16When President Trump took office, we made a solemn promise.
05:21We will always stand by you without hesitation, without apology, and without compromise.
05:29We will have your back.
05:33In part, to fulfill that promise, we established the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel
05:38to ensure that this five-year milestone would not pass without correcting the record.
05:45And I want to personally recognize Undersecretary Anthony Tata, his office and his team,
05:51Sean Parnell for his leadership, and Stu Scheller.
05:55Where's Stu?
05:55There he is right there.
05:56Stu Scheller for their relentless effort to push these upgrades through.
06:02Stu, a Marine who had his own front row seat, a different kind of seat to this, spoke truth.
06:10Your personal dedication to shepherding this process is a testament to what it means to look out for our own.
06:18So thank you.
06:20Because of your work, we are proudly authorizing upgrades and the V for Valor device for these Marines today.
06:28American Valor, not downplaying it.
06:31Showcasing it.
06:33So as we place these medals on your chest today, we must also recognize those who bore the weight of
06:40this five-year struggle far from the battlefield.
06:43So to the families, colleagues, fellow Marines, friends of Gunnery Sergeant E.B. Corporal Gretzen and Lance Corporal Houston, thank
06:53you.
06:54And to all the families of the 13, everyone else affected by this, I know this is a restoration of
07:01what was done that day, of what was the bravery that was shown that day, the heroism and impossible circumstances.
07:09It's all part of a restoration, as is, frankly, the Afghan review writ large, which is ongoing.
07:17And by the end of this calendar year, we'll have a full report to provide.
07:21You have carried the weight of quiet sacrifice.
07:26And today, we hope you feel the full, proud embrace of this department, of the Corps, and of a grateful
07:36nation.
07:37Marines, on this fifth anniversary, your valor is now officially, permanently, and properly recognized.
07:45You are the vanguard of a lethal, proud, and undefeated force that secures and defends our nation.
07:51And you represent the very heart of peace through strength.
07:56So thank you.
07:58God bless you.
07:59And God bless our great republic and Semper Fi.
08:04Now we'll do a...
08:13The Secretary of War will now present the Bronze Star Medal.
08:17Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan Eby, please join the Honorable Pete Hegseth on stage.
08:25The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with the device for valor
08:32to Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan M. Eby, United States Marine Corps,
08:37for heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy
08:42while assigned to Gulf Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment,
08:46Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force, Crisis Response, Central Command,
08:51in support of Operation Allies Refuge on 26 August 2021.
08:57In the face of a known and suspected terrorist threat,
09:00at the Hamid Karzai International Air Force at Abbey's Gate,
09:04Staff Sergeant Eby continued screening evacuees from an exposed and dangerous position.
09:09While his platoon commander and half his platoon either wounded or killed by the terrorist attack,
09:15he took command and rallied his remaining forces to establish security amidst the chaos
09:21before working feverishly to evacuate injured Marines.
09:25His courageous actions undoubtedly saved the lives of many.
09:30Gunnery Sergeant Eby's unswerving determination,
09:33wise judgment,
09:33and dedication to duty
09:35reflected great credit upon him
09:37and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps
09:40and the United States Naval Service.
09:58Thank you, Gunnery Sergeant Eby.
10:10Lance Corporal Jordan Houston,
10:12please join the Honorable Pete Hegseth on stage.
10:19The President of the United States
10:21takes pleasure in presenting
10:23the Bronze Star Medal
10:24with the device for valor
10:26to Lance Corporal Jordan J. Houston,
10:29United States Marine Corps
10:31for heroic achievement
10:33in connection with combat operations
10:35against the enemy
10:36while assigned to Gulf Company,
10:382nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment,
10:40Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force,
10:42Crisis Response,
10:44Central Command
10:44in support of Operation Allies Refuge
10:47on 26 August 2021.
10:51In the face of a known and specific terrorist threat
10:53at the Hamid Karzai International Airport's Abbey Gate,
10:56Lance Corporal Houston
10:57continued to conduct crowd control
11:00from an exposed and vulnerable position.
11:03Upon the detonation of a suicide vest,
11:05he was wounded, concussed,
11:07surrounded by gunfire,
11:09and engulfed in tear gas,
11:10but disregarded his own injuries
11:12to pull multiple wounded Marines to safety.
11:16His actions amidst the chaos
11:18doubtlessly saved the lives
11:20of his fellow Marines.
11:22Lance Corporal Houston's
11:24unswerving determination,
11:26wise judgment,
11:27and dedication to duty
11:28reflected great credit upon him,
11:30and were in keeping
11:31with the highest traditions
11:32of the United States Marine Corps
11:34and the United States Naval Service.
11:54Corporal Michael Gretzen,
11:56please join the Honorable Pete Hegseth on stage.
12:02The Secretary of the Navy
12:04has awarded the Navy and Marine Corps
12:06Accommodation Medal
12:07with the device for valor
12:09to Corporal Michael A. Gretzen,
12:11United States Marine Corps,
12:13for heroic achievement
12:14as riflemen
12:16while assigned to Gulf Company,
12:182nd Battalion,
12:191st Marine Regiment,
12:20Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force,
12:22Crisis Response,
12:23Central Command,
12:25in support of Operation Allies Refuge
12:27on 26 August, 2021.
12:31In the face of a known
12:32and specific terrorist threat
12:33at the Hamid Karzai International Airport's
12:35Abbey Gate,
12:37Corporal Gretzen continued
12:38to conduct crowd control
12:39from an exposed and vulnerable position
12:41to allow for the evacuation
12:43of those more critically wounded.
12:46His courageous actions
12:47doubtlessly saved the lives
12:49of his fellow Marines.
12:50Corporal Gretzen's unswerving determination,
12:52wise judgment,
12:54and total dedication to duty
12:55reflected credit upon him
12:57and were in keeping
12:58with the highest traditions
12:59of the Marine Corps
13:00and the United States Naval Service.
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