Hoover, Darin Taylor

Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover was a U.S. Marine assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, part of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command. He was from Salt Lake City, Utah, and was based at Camp Pendleton, California.

On August 26, 2021, Hoover was providing security at the Abbey Gate entrance to Hamid Karzai International Airport during the evacuation of civilians from Kabul. A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the gate, killing Hoover and 12 other U.S. service members. The attack, which also killed at least 170 Afghan civilians, was claimed by the Islamic State's affiliate in Afghanistan, ISIS-K.

The attack occurred during the final days of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan that succeeded Operation Enduring Freedom. The operation, which began in January 2015, was part of a NATO-led train, advise, and assist mission following the formal end of the U.S. combat role.

In the immediate aftermath, the U.S. Department of Defense identified Hoover among the fallen. His body was returned to the United States, and a memorial service was held in Utah. President Joe Biden attended the dignified transfer of the remains at Dover Air Force Base.

Hoover was posthumously promoted from the rank of Sergeant to Staff Sergeant. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal. His name is inscribed on memorials, including one at Camp Pendleton, honoring the 13 service members killed in the attack.

Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover was killed during Operation Freedom's Sentinel (2015–2021). The conflict concluded in August 2021. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Sanchez, Maria Victoria, Dawson, John Michael, Ruiz, Pablo Allende Iii, Mckenna, Peter Andrew Jr.

← Return to the full memorial | Add a memorial record