Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz

Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jared Marcus Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Missouri, was an infantryman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton, California. He was killed on August 26, 2021, when an ISIS-K suicide bomber attacked Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Jared while assisting with the evacuation of civilians.

LCpl Schmitz was an energetic child who enjoyed hockey, football, basketball, soccer and video games. He expressed an interest in becoming a Marine while still in elementary school. He graduated from High School in 2019 after entering the Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program at 17. His service took him first to Jordan and then to Afghanistan.

His father, Mark Schmitz, remembered Jared as “an energetic little guy” who was constantly happy and always smiling. Reflecting on his son’s sacrifice, Mark said, “He’s a hell of an American. A true hero in every sense of the word.” His family remembered him as kind, gentle and selfless, with a warm sense of humor and a strong desire to stand up for others.

LCpl Schmitz was survived by his parents, stepmother, 3 brothers and 2 sisters.