Secretary of War Pete Hegseth presented three retired Marines with upgraded valor awards during a Pentagon ceremony, recognizing their actions during the 2021 Abbey Gate attack in Afghanistan. The awards, delayed for five years, honored Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby, Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston, and Cpl. Michael Gretzon, who served with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. Eby and Houston received Bronze Star Medals with Valor for leading evacuation efforts and shielding comrades under fire, while Gretzon was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor for maintaining crowd control post-explosion. Hegseth emphasized restoring trust between the department and service members, citing bureaucratic delays as a factor in the delay. A review panel, led by Senior Advisor Sean Parnell, confirmed the Marines’ actions met the criteria for top honors. Commandant Gen. Eric M. Smith praised their courage under extreme duress.
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Summary adapted from https://war.gov
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