CLEVELAND — An Ohio Navy Corpsman was among the more than 100 people who were killed in the bombing near Kabul, Afghanistan's airport Thursday, officials from the Corpsman’s former school confirmed.
Max Soviak, a 2017 Edison High School graduate, was one of 13 U.S. service members who died in the explosion.
"Max was a good student who was active in sports and other activities throughout his school career," Edison Local Schools wrote in a letter. "He was well respected and liked by everyone who knew him. Max was full of life in everything he did. Our schools and local community are mourning the loss of Max. He and his family are in all of our thoughts and prayers."
The Navy issued a statement Friday, saying, "One Sailor was killed during the August 26 attack at the Abbey gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. We mourn the loss of this Sailor and we offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of our fallen shipmate."
The Navy doesn't name victims publicly until 24 hours after it has notified next of kin.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe fundraiser has been created to help Soviak's family. Jason Garza is organizing this fundraiser, according to the GoFundMe page.
"His family is going through much turmoil and grief so we wanted to start this fund in honor of Max and his family, to help with everything financial so they can focus on their family during this time of need," Garza wrote on the GoFundMe page.
The Soviak family released the following statement to Spectrum News on Saturday:
"On behalf of the entire Soviak family, we want to thank all those who have extended their support and prayers on the loss of our son, Max.
Max was a wonderful son who loved his family, his community, and was proud to serve in the U.S. Navy.
He was excited about the opportunities the Navy would offer him and planned to make the Navy a career. We are incredibly proud of his service to our country.
Words cannot express how heartbroken we are with this news and we will miss Max tremendously.
We are struggling to come to grips with this personal tragedy and prefer to grieve with close family and friends.
Maxton was an awesome young man who was well liked in the community, as evidenced by the outpouring of condolences from teachers, coaches, employers, family and friends. He was always proud of being part of a state champion wrestling team and state playoff final four football team two years in a row, but he was most proud to be a Navy Corpsman and a “devil doc” for the Marines. His final words to his mother over FaceTime when he was telling her goodbye was after she told him to be safe, were, “don’t worry mom, my guys got me. They won’t let anything happen to me.”
Today she realized that they all just went together.
Maxton leaves behind 12 brothers and sisters that are all hurting terribly.
As we mourn the loss of our son, we also mourn for the loss of the Marines and Soldier who were killed and pray for the speedy recovery of all of those wounded in Afghanistan.
As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family and we respectfully request that you honor our privacy."
Sen. Rob Portman wrote in a statement he is "heartbroken" over the news.
"He was a hero who died serving with his Marine brothers helping to save fellow countrymen and our Afghan allies. We mourn his loss and are praying for his family and friends," Portman said.
Edison Local Schools Superintendent Thomas Roth told Spectrum News 1 the school planned to hold a moment of silence in honor of Soviak at the Friday night football game.
Along with the 13 service members who were killed, at least 95 Afghans died and officials there expect the number to grow. Eighteen U.S. service members were also injured, according to Pentagon officials.
The Pentagon confirmed Friday it was one suicide bomber who caused the explosion outside of the Kabul airport, not two which was initially reported.
Gov. Mike DeWine ordered all U.S. and Ohio flags on public grounds to be flown at half-staff late Thursday night to honor the victims.
"In accordance with the order issued by the President of the United States of America and in honoring the lives of the U.S. service members and other victims killed in the terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Governor DeWine issued a flag lowering order last night directing that all U.S. and Ohio flags be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the state until sunset on August 30, 2021," DeWine's office wrote in a press release.
For updates from Afghanistan, click here.
Reporter Micaela Marshall contributed to this report.
Aug. 29 Editor's Note: Max Soviack's family asked he be referred to as a Navy Corpsman not a medic, which is an incorrect term in the Navy. The story has been corrected.