Marine Corps Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum

Marine Corps Lance Corporal Rylee Joseph McCollum, 20, of Bondurant, WY, served as an infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He was killed August 26, 2021, when an ISIS-K suicide bomber attacked Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was helping protect and process civilians during the evacuation.

LCpl McCollum was born in Riverton, Wyoming, and raised near Jackson. He attended Jackson Hole High School where he competed in wrestling. Having wanted to become a Marine since childhood, he enlisted on his 18th birthday and graduated from boot camp on December 6, 2019. He deployed to Jordan with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in April 2021 before his unit was sent to Kabul.

LCpl McCollum’s father described him as “full-blooded red, white, and blue.” Wrestling coach Ben Arlotta remembered him as an exceptionally determined young man who protected those he loved and always led from the front, while his family remembered his patriotism, compassion, vibrant personality and wonderful sense of humor.

LCPL McCollum was survived by his wife and daughter, who was born 18 days after his death.