(TargetLiberty.org) – The US Navy corpsman who died in the August 26 terrorist bombing at Kabul airport has been posthumously honored. The 22-year-old medic was among more than a hundred people murdered by an ISIS-K suicide bomber.
On September 7, the Navy announced that Hospital Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak has been promoted to Petty Officer Third Class, and awarded the Purple Heart medal and the Fleet Marine Force Corpsman warfare badge in honor of his bravery in supporting the chaotic evacuation of Kabul in late August.
Hospital Corpsman Maxton “Max” W. Soviak was given the rank of petty officer 3rd class and awarded the Purple Heart and Fleet Marine Force Corpsman warfare badge “as a result of his brave actions in support of fellow service members,” the @USNavy said.https://t.co/yZ51AXm5yo
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) September 7, 2021
In the statement, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said that while the awards were posthumous, “I have no doubt his dedication to this nation, his displayed skill as a Hospital Corpsman, and devotion to the mission at hand warrant this recognition.”
Technically, any member of the US Armed Forces killed by a hostile force automatically receives a Purple Heart, which includes Soviak, but it’s rare for a posthumous recipient to be publicly recognized – and the promotion to PO3, and the warfare badge, are definitely remarkable.
Petty Officer Soviak joined the US Navy in 2017 and had been serving with the 1st Marine Regiment since last September. His body was returned to his native Ohio on September 8 where no doubt his life and accomplishments will be celebrated by family and friends.
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