# Honoring the fallen: a prayer for the 13 service members killed in Kabul
*2021-09-22*

> Bill Young and John O'Rourke gather to honor the 13 U.S. service members killed in the August 2021 terrorist attack at the Kabul airport through personal tributes and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

## A Call to Prayer

Good afternoon. This is Bill Young and John O'Rourke, and welcome to Catholic Conscience 2.0. Today, we are holding a special podcast to pray for the 13 service men and women who were killed in the bombing in Afghanistan this past August. Using biographies provided by the Epoch Times, we want to honor each of these soldiers and their families before we begin our normal chaplet and prayers.

It is a very tragic situation, and while I apologize for not doing this sooner, I feel that today is the day the Holy Spirit is leading me to do this. I am simply a follower of the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ.

## Interceding for the Grieving

Before we read the biographies, John offered a prayer for those who have been victims of war: "Good Lord, I want to pray for my friends who have suffered so terribly. I cannot begin to enter into the pain that they go through and are still suffering. I pray, as Jesus said, that somehow they will know Your presence in the memories of their terror, Your courage and Your comfort in the pain, Your healing in their wounds, and Your hope as they try to rebuild their lives. Give them the strength and the power they need at this very difficult time. I pray that You will be a true friend, be with them, and help them at the right time, enveloping them with Your love, acceptance, and compassion. In Jesus' name, amen."

## Remembering the Fallen

We remember Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Darryl T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah, a natural-born leader who was dedicated to protecting the nation from evil. We remember Sergeant Johnny "Rosie" Rosario Picardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, who was known for her endless accomplishments and dedication to community service. We remember Sergeant Nicole L. G., 23, of Sacramento, California, described as a bright light who motivated others to do their best.

We honor Corporal Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California, who exemplified service above self. We remember Corporal Deegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, a former Boy Scout and big brother who was strong and heroic. We remember Lance Corporal Jared N. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri, who was particularly close to his special needs sister. We remember Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas, who embodied American grit and selfless service.

We honor Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana, who was proud to serve as the "best of the best." We remember Lance Corporal Riley J. McCollum, a native of Barren, Wyoming, a dedicated Marine and family man who was killed just weeks before the birth of his first child. We remember Lance Corporal Dylan R. Marola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, a beloved son and brave soldier. We remember Lance Corporal Karim M. Knight, of California, whose heart for others was evident in videos of him interacting with children in Afghanistan.

Finally, we remember Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, who lived a lifetime of compassion in his short years, and Army Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Nuckus, 24, of Carrington, Tennessee, a motivated man and devoted husband who served two tours in Afghanistan.

## The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Having honored these 13 individuals, we turn to prayer for their souls and their families—their wives, parents, and children. We pray that the children born after these losses grow up knowing their parents were heroes who died for our country.

We began with a prayer for the souls in purgatory, asking that by the precious blood shed by Jesus in the streets of Jerusalem, these souls may be delivered to the throne of glory. We then entered into the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, beginning with the opening prayer: "You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, the ocean of mercy open up for the whole world."

Following the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the recitation of Psalm 130—a prayer for pardon and mercy—we proclaimed the Apostles' Creed. We then prayed the decades of the Chaplet, offering the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of the world and the relief of the suffering, concluding with the invocation: "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

*We entrust the souls of these fallen heroes and the hearts of their grieving families to the infinite mercy of God.*