A U.S. Marine from Logansport was killed in last week’s bombing attack in Afghanistan, one of 13 American service members who lost their lives.
Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, was assisting in evacuation efforts at the Kabul airport when he was killed. Thousands of people have made their way to the airport in an attempt to escape the country in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal and Taliban takeover. More than 200 people died in the attack.
Sanchez was a student in the Logansport Community School Corporation, which said in a statement Friday it “mourned the loss of US Marine Humberto Sanchez, a graduate of LHS.”
In an email, Logansport High School Principal Matt Jones said Sanchez was one of six students in his class to enlist in the Marines.
Jones called Sanchez a “dedicated artist” who played varsity soccer, enrolled in honors and dual college credit classes, and was on the Homecoming court his senior year.
“Humberto was a smart, athletic young man who was popular, well-liked by his soccer teammates, classmates, coaches, and teachers,” Jones said. “He was honored to be putting on the Marine uniform and serving his country.”
Public officials across Indiana reacted to Sanchez’s death, including Governor Eric Holcomb, U.S. Senators Todd Young and Mike Braun, and Logansport Mayor Chris Martin.
In his statement, Holcomb said, “Few among us answer a call of duty so dangerous as Corporal Sanchez volunteered to do.”
In a statement released Saturday, President Biden called the fallen service members “heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others.”
On Sunday, the bodies of the 13 service members were returned to Dover Air Base in Delaware in a “dignified transfer” ceremony.