The tragic 13 US troops killed in the Kabul airport attack have been identified with devastated relatives and friends saying they had "paid the ultimate sacrifice".
Navy corpsman Max Soviak, Army Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss, and Marines Hunter Lopez, Rylee McCollum, David Lee Espinoza, Kareem Nikoui, Jared Schmitz, Daegan Page, Taylor Hoover, Humberto Sanchez, Johanny Rosario, Dylan Merola and Nicole Gee all died when a suicide bomb exploded on Thursday.
Two days before Marine Sergeant Nicole died she posted a photo of herself in uniform holding a baby in Afghanistan with the caption, "I love my job.
Another haunting picture of the 23-year-old shows Nicole escorting evacuees four days before the blast which killed as many as 170 civilians including three Brits.
Nicole had been assigned to help women and girls at the airport flee the Taliban.
Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISK), the IS terror branch in Afghanistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
On Friday the US Central Command confirmed that a drone strike had eliminated the suspected mastermind behind the airport attack.
The strike killed one person and spokesman Navy Capt. William Urban said they knew of no civilian casualties.
These are the names of the 13 American troops who died serving their country.
Sergeant Nicole Gee, 23
Nicole was a maintenance technician with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Roseville, California.
On August 20 she declared her love for her job with a photo she posted of herself with a baby on Instagram.
Captain Karen Holliday said in a Facebook tribute that Nicole was "a Marine's Marine".
She added: "I find peace knowing that she left this world doing what she loved. She was.
'She was doing God's work…..a warrior. Searching Afghan women and children trying to get out of country."
Lance Corporal Dylan Merola, 20
Dylan was a Marine from Rancho Cucamonga, California.
According to KABC-TV he was a graduate of Los Osos High School.
A fundraising page has been set up to support his family by his friend Joseph Matsuoka.
His grieving pal said on the page the "brave soldier" had paid the "ultimate sacrifice".
He added: "Dylan was a beloved son, brother, grandson, great grandson, nephew, a great friend. Please help us in providing him with the funeral he deserves for serving his country with the highest honour."
Sergeant Johanny Rosario, 25
Rosario was a Marine sergeant from Lawrence, Massachusetts, with the Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
Devastated friends have made touching tributes to Johanny on social media.
Nastassia Hyatt, a former Marine, said in a Facebook post that her pal had helped her through difficult times and her death had "hit hard".
She wrote: "You brought me back to life. Back to life… back to life….
"I wish i could bring you back to life for just one last hug, one last smile, one last nap, one last meal… one last anything."
Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza, 20
David was from Rio Grande, Texas, and this was his second deployment.
He first made a trip to the Middle East and arrived in Afghanistan about a week before he died.
His grieving mum, Elizabeth Holguin, said he was uneasy about being in Afghanistan.
She added: "I prayed every day.
"He was a very good person. He served his country. He helped in any way he could. He was there (in Afghanistan), helping innocent people."
Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum, 20
The young dad-to-be from Wyoming was pictured with his pregnant wife shortly before he was deployed to Afghanistan in April.
Cheyenne McCollum, Rylee's sister, told Mail Online her brother had wanted to be a Marine since he was a toddler.
She said: "Rylee was an amazing, man with a passion for the Marines. He was a son, a brother, a husband and a father with a baby due in just 3 weeks,' she said.
"He wanted to be a marine his whole life and carried around his rifle in his diapers and cowboy boots.
"Rylee will always be a hero not just for the ultimate sacrifice he made for our country but for the way he impacted every life around him for the better. Making us stronger, kinder, teaching us to love deeper. We love you Rylee."
Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, 20
Jared was from Wentzville, Missouri, and his devastated dad said his son had always wanted to be a soldier.
He told KMOX : "His life meant so much more. I'm so incredibly devastated that I won't be able to see the man that he was very quickly growing into becoming.
"This was something he always wanted to do and I never seen a young man train as hard as he did to be the best soldier he could be."
Blaming Joe Biden for his death, he said: "Be afraid of our leadership or lack thereof. Pray every day for the soldiers that are putting their lives at risk, doing what they love which is protecting all of us."
He added that he was relieved when his son signed up as a Marine when Donald Trump was the president because he 'really believed this guy didn't want to send people into harm's way.'
Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, 20
Marine Kareem Nikoui was from Norco, California.
His dad said Kareem would often bring other Marines home on the holidays if they couldn't get back to their own families.
"My wife and I felt very honoured that [since] these other boys weren't around their homes, that we were able to provide some sort of family life for them," he said.
"He really loved that [Marine Corps] family. He was devoted—he was going to make a career out of this, and he wanted to go. No hesitation for him to be called to duty."
Norco plans to honour Kareem by placing his name on the 'Lest We Forget Wall' at the George A. Ingalls Veterans Memorial Plaza.
Lance Corporal Hunter Lopez, 22
Hunter was the son of two police officers and came from Coachella Valley, California.
City of La Quinta in Coachella issued a statement paying tribute to Hunter.
It reads: "Our La Quinta Family is in mourning today with the tragic loss of Hunter Lopez, one of the fallen United States Service Members in the attack in Afghanistan,'
"Hunter is the son of Captain Herman and Alicia Lopez, both members of the Riverside Sheriff's Department. Captain Herman Lopez is our Police Chief and Captain over at the Thermal Station.
"We are all so humbled by the service and ultimate sacrifice that Hunter gave to protect our country. He was a brave and selfless soldier who answered the call to be a United States Marine. Like his parents, Hunter wanted to help serve others and protect his community."
Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover, 31
Taylor was from Utah and graduated in the Class of 2008 at Hillcrest High School in Midvale.
His dad paid tribute to him on Facebook calling him "a hero".
He wrote: "Soooooo glad I got to see him before he left. I love you son!!! You're my hero!! Please check in on us once in a while. I'll try to make you proud!!'
Hoover's uncle Jeremy Soto said a Facebook tribute that the family were "angry" and "crushed" at the death of his "handsome nephew"...
Brittany Jones Barnett, an aunt, added: "'Thank you sweet boy for the ultimate sacrifice. For giving your life for us all. Fighting for freedom and giving absolutely everything you had. You will never ever be forgotten. We love you so much."
Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss, 23
Ryan was from Knoxville, Tennessee, and had served right out of high school for five years with special training in Psychology Operations.
His heartbroken stepmum Lianne Knauss told ABC 6 that he was looking forward to returning to the U.S. and moving to Washington D.C.
She added: "He was a super-smart hilarious young man."
His grandfather, Wayne Knauss, paid tribute to him saying: "He grew up in a Christian home, attended Berean Christian school through 8th grade and spent, four years at Gibbs High [School].
"A motivated young man who loved his country. He was a believer so we will see him again in Gods heaven."
Corporal Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23
The family of Deagan, who is from Omaha, Nebraska, said in a statement that their "hearts are broken" by his death.
They said: "Daegan will always be remembered for his tough outer shell and giant heart. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the other Marine and Navy families whose loved ones died alongside Daegan.
"Our hearts are broken, but we are thankful for the friends and family who are surrounding us during this time.
"Daegan's girlfriend Jessica, his mom, dad, step-mom, step-dad, 4 siblings, and grandparents are all mourning the loss of a great son, grandson, and brother."
They added he was looking forward to coming home to see his family and friends and had plans to go to trade school to possible become a lineman.
Corporal Humberto Sanchez, 22
Humberto was from Logansport, Indiana, and graduated from high school in 2017.
Logansport Mayor Chris Martin paid tribute to him in a statement on Facebook.
He said: "This young man had not yet even turned 30 and still had his entire life ahead of him.
"Any plans he may have had for his post-military life were given in sacrifice due to the heart he exhibited in putting himself into harm's way to safeguard the lives of others."
Adrian Gazcon, a friend, tweeted, saying that 'it hurts that he's gone.' 'Thank you for your service, you're a hero bro.'
Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, 20
Maxton William Soviak, from Ohio, made a tragic Instagram post on June 10 where he shared a photo posing with other service members in what is believed to be Afghanistan.
He wrote as a comment in the post: "It's kill or be killed, definitely trynna be on the kill side.
Navy corpsmen often work alongside Marines, who do not have their own medics.
Soviak's sister Marilyn said in her own Instagram post that her "heart was in pieces".
She added: "He was just a kid. We are sending kids over there to die. Kids with families that now have holes just like ours."
