ARKANSAS, USA —
Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31, was one of the hundreds of service members assisting in evacuation efforts at the Kabul airport when he and 12 fellow U.S. troops' mission was cut short by a deadly suicide bomber on Thursday (Aug. 26).
At his press conference on Tuesday (Aug. 31), Gov. Asa Hutchinson started off by taking a moment to recognize Staff Sgt. Hoover and his family here in Arkansas.
Staff Sgt. Hoover was born in Arkansas before moving to West Memphis and then to Utah, where he had lived for the past 11 years. A large portion of Staff Sgt. Hoover's family still resides in Arkansas, according to Gov. Hutchinson.
Staff Sgt. Hoover had served as a Marine for 12 years, including three tours of Afghanistan.
"I wanted to express appreciation for the life of Staff Sgt. Hoover and the work that he did to save lives in Afghanistan. May his service and sacrifice to our nation will never be forgotten," said Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
RELATED: How you can help Afghan refugees