On This Day, August 26th, 2021, We Honor a Fallen Hero
Jared Schmitz was born on February 25th, 2001, to Mark and Sue Schmitz. While Jared was still a toddler, his parents divorced. Once Mark remarried, Jared joined a blended family, consisting of his stepmother Jaclyn, brothers Cameron and Travis, and eventually two younger sisters. Elle and Addison. From a remarkably young age, Jared demonstrated a deep sense of purpose and patriotism. At just eight years old, he expressed his dream of serving his country in the United States military.
During his junior year at Fort Zumwalt South High School, Jared enlisted in the United States Marine Corps through the Delayed Entry Program. Once he made his decision, he dedicated himself fully, regularly training with fellow recruits and preparing mentally and physically for the path ahead. Jared graduated from Fort Zumwalt South High School in May 2019 and officially enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 8th, 2019.
Jared reported to Camp Pendleton, California, where he completed the thirteen-week Marine Corps Recruit Training. He earned the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor medal on September 20th, 2019, a moment of great pride for both Jared and his family. He graduated from recruit training on October 5th, 2019, and continued his training at the School of Infantry–West, where he graduated on December 18th, 2019. Jared was subsequently assigned as an infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton.
Jared’s service first took him to Jordan, followed by his deployment to Afghanistan. On August 26th, 2021, Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz was killed in action while conducting non-combatant evacuation operations at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was one of thirteen United States servicemembers who lost their lives in a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate during the evacuation following the fall of the Afghan government to the Taliban. The attack, carried out by ISIS-K, also resulted in the tragic loss of more than 160 civilian lives.
Jared is lovingly remembered as a kind, gentle, and selfless soul. He possessed a warm sense of humor, a strong sense of justice, and a deep love for his family and friends. He stood up for others, believed in doing what was right, and lived with quiet courage and humility.
Jared’s bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the United States Marine Corps will never be forgotten. He is a true American hero whose legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, along with the twelve other fallen service members, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
He is survived by his father, Mark Schmitz, his mother, Sue Livingston-Schmitz, and his stepmother, Jaclyn Schmitz. Additionally, he is survived by his siblings, brothers Cameron, Jake, and Travis, and sisters Elle and Addison.
Jared Schmitz is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
The servicemembers killed in the attack are listed below:
- Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Missouri.
- Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts.
- Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California.
- Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California.
- Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska.
- Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana.
- Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas.
- Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming.
- Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California.
- Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California.
- Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio.
- Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.
“No one is ever gone as long as someone still has memories of them.”