CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An Ohio Navy medic who attended high school in Milan died Thursday in the Kabul terrorist attack that killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghans.
Max Soviak, a 2017 graduate of Edison High School, was killed as terrorist group ISIS-K did the bombings and gunfire at Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Soviak’s sister, Marilyn Soviak, expressed her sorrow for the loss of her brother on Instagram, writing in part, “I’ve never been one for politics and i’m not going to start now. What I will say is that my beautiful, intelligent, beat-to-the-sound of his own drum, annoying, charming baby brother was killed yesterday helping to save lives.”
Edison Local Schools released a statement Friday on Soviak’s passing.
“It is with deepest sorrow that I am sharing this news,” the statement read. “The Edison Local Schools was informed this morning that Max Soviak, a 2017 graduate of Edison High School, was killed in the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan yesterday. Max was a good student who was active in sports and other activities throughout his school career
The statement noted that Soviak’s family has asked that everyone respect their privacy at this difficult time.
Eighteen U.S. service members were also wounded in the attacks, marking the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since August 2011.
President Joe Biden has vowed to avenge the deaths of 13 American troops and dozens of Afghans in attacks at the Kabul airport that put the White House deeper into crisis over a chaotic and deadly end to the 20-year war, according to the Associated Press. But retribution will be more difficult with fewer U.S. intelligence assets in Afghanistan.