Let us honor the brave men and women who spent their lives uplifting the American dream. Whether by illness, accident, or old age, here is a list of leaders and heroes who died in 2021.
Richard Marcinko
He was the founder and first Commander of SEAL Team 6, and his death touched many military communities. Marcinko gave his unit the name “SEAL Team 6” to confuse the enemy regarding how many SEAL Teams existed. On Christmas Day, Marcinko died at 81 years of age.
We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the U.S. military or the Department of DefenseDonald Rumsfeld
As a young man, Donald Rumsfeld served three years as an aviator in the US Navy. He was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1962 and was re-elected three times. As the Secretary of Defense, Rumsfeld established the Trident ballistic missile submarine, the B-1 bomber, and the MX intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programs. On June 29th, Rumsfeld died at 88 years of age.
We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the U.S. military or the Department of DefenseColin Powell
Colin Powell grew up in the Harlem and South Bronx sections of New York City and attended the City College of New York. After graduating, Powell enlisted into the US Army and served two separate tours in Vietnam. In 1989, Powell became President George H.W. Bush’s chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The second President Bush, appointed Powell as Secretary of State in 2001. He later resigned and retired in 2004. On October 18th, he died of Covid complications at 84 years of age.
We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the U.S. military or the Department of DefenseHarry Beal
Harry Beal enlisted in the Navy in 1948, and aboard the USS Shenandoah, he served as a gunner’s mate. Starting in 1955, he was a member of the underwater demolition team. Most impressively, he was the first man in history to apply to become a Navy SEAL. He then became a Navy SEAL from 1962-1968. On January 26th, Beal died at 90 years of age.
We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the U.S. military or the Department of DefenseHouston Tumlin
U.S. Army Veteran Houston Tumlin played Will Farrell’s son in the comedy “Talladega Nights.” That role was the only one Tumlin ever had; he eventually went on to join the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell. Soldiers remembered Tumlin as an excellent soldier and a kind person. On March 23rd, Tumlin died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 28 years of age.
We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the U.S. military or the Department of DefenseGeorge Shultz
During World War II, George Shultz served as a United States Marine and was later detached to the US Army’s 81st Infantry Division at the Battle of Peleliu. Shultz moved on to be the Secretary of Labor and Secretary of the Treasury for President Nixon. In 1982, President Reagan anointed Shultz as Secretary of State. On February 6th, Shultz died at 100 years of age.
We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the U.S. military or the Department of DefenseU.S. Marines Killed in Afghanistan Attack
Lance Cpl. David Lee Espinoza, USMC | Laredo, TX
Sgt. Nicole Gee, USMC | Roseville, CA
Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, USMC | Salt Lake City, UT
Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, US Army | Knoxville, TN
Cpl. Hunter Lopez, USMC | Indio, CA
Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, USMC | Bondurant, WY
Cpl. Dylan Merola, USMC | Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, USMC | Norco, CA
Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, USMC | Omaha, NE
Sgt. Johanny Rosario, USMC | Lawrence, MA
Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, USMC | Logansport, IN
Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, USMC | Wentzville, MO
Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, US Navy | Berlin Heights, OH
On August 26th, 2021, 13 US service members were killed protecting the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the U.S. military or the Department of DefenseA Mission To Serve Our Heroes
If you or anyone you know served in the military, you may need help obtaining a fair disability rating and compensation. Contact Veteran Ratings. Veteran Ratings has a 95% chance of success in acquiring the rating and benefits you deserve.
Have a question? On the fence? Contact us for more information. We are here for you — we proudly serve those who served. Veterans are our only priority because they made this the land of the free through their bravery and sacrifice.
