Utah Marine among the dead from Kabul airport attack

SALT LAKE CITY — The family of a Marine from Utah confirms to KSL NewsRadio that he was among the 13 American service members killed in a suicide bomb attack outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. 

Read more: Sen. Romney calls U.S. service member deaths in Afghanistan “unthinkable loss”

The father of the Utah Marine, identified as Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, spoke with KSL TV’s Alex Cabrero Friday afternoon about his son.  Before that, Darin Hoover posted an emotional farewell to his son on Facebook calling him a hero and ending with, “I’ll try to make you proud.”

Utah Marine among 13 troops killed

Thursday, a suicide bomber’s explosion outside the Kabul airport killed more than 100 Afghans and 13 US troops dead. It was the most lethal day for American forces in Afghanistan in 10 years. 

Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, was chatting with Inside Sources host Boyd Matheson on KSL NewsRadio when word broke of Hoover’s death. 

“My heart goes out to his family,” Moore said on the program Friday. “There’s an amazing defense and veteran community in Utah. And this is just this is this is heartbreaking.” 

We just received word that Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover of UT lost his life to the attack at the Kabul airport yesterday. We’ll be forever grateful for his sacrifice & legacy. He spent his last moments serving our state & nation, & we’ll never forget his unwavering devotion. #utpol

— Rep. Blake Moore (@RepBlakeMoore) August 27, 2021

Moore said Utah can be proud of the work Hoover did to help evacuate Americans and Afghan citizens from the war-torn country before his death. 

“There’s over 100,000 people that have been evacuated, and that’s on his legacy, to be a part of that,” Moore said, choking up. “Many people will live amazing lives, and we’ll welcome many to Utah. And this will be remembered as something, that Utahns will get behind him.” 

Reaction from state and federal leaders

Flags have been lowered at the Utah State Capitol in honor of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, a Utah Marine killed in the suicide attack at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/DkqePBM12v

— Paul Nelson (@KSLPaul) August 27, 2021

Flags have been lowered at the Utah State Capitol in Hoover’s honor.  Governor Spencer Cox issued a statement saying his family was devastated to hear of Hoover’s passing, adding that he served valiantly as a Marine and died serving his countrymen as well as American allies in Afghanistan.

The statement also says…

“We honor his tremendous bravery and commitment to his country, even as we condemn the senseless violence that resulted in his death. Abby and I pray for Staff Sgt. Hoover, his family and loved ones during this most difficult time.”

 Utah Senator Mike Lee is also sending his condolences, saying “burying a child is a grief no parent should bear.”

 

My heart is broken. I spoke with Staff Sgt. Hoover’s parents today. I told them Utah mourned with them. When I asked how we could help, his dad simply replied, “Just promise me Utah will never forget my son.”

I did.

Please help me keep my promise. 💔🇺🇸 https://t.co/jP05xNBznk

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) August 27, 2021

 

Canyons School District remembers Hoover

We honor the memory of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, a 2008 @HillcrestHighUT graduate, who died in the service of our country. Here’s a photo of Hoover—No. 68—with teammates. We honor his strength and sacrifice. Our thoughts are with his family, friends at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/5llV0HTPAJ

— Canyons District (@canyonsdistrict) August 27, 2021

 

 

Read more: 

• New urgency to airlift from Kabul after blasts kill dozens
• Utah teacher helps secure safety for former student and family in Afghanistan
• VA of Salt Lake City increasing outreach to vets in the wake of Afghanistan attack