MORE ABOUT SGT NICOLE GEE

Nicole Leeann Herrera Gee (May 1, 1998 – August 26, 2021) was a United States Marine Corps Sergeant, born in Vail, Colorado, and raised in Roseville, California. She graduated from Oakmont High School in 2016 with a notable 4.1 GPA and played softball, among other extracurriculars. She met her husband, Jarod Gee, while in high school, and they were married in August 2016.

She enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2017 and completed rigorous trainings at Parris Island; the School of Infantry East at Camp Lejeune; Aviation Accession and PMOS school in Pensacola; and the Communications and Electronics School at 29 Palms. Assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, her role focused on maintaining ground electronics transmission systems.

She deployed in February 2021 with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Iwo Jima, with stops across Spain, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait. Nicole earned a meritorious promotion to Sergeant on August 2, 2021, while stationed in Kuwait.

Nicole excelled physically—setting weightlifting records at Al‑Jaber Air Base and achieving perfect scores on the Combat Fitness Test. She also served as a martial arts instructor and earned numerous military awards, including the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and others.

In August 2021, Sgt. Gee served on a Female Engagement Team on  Operation Allies Refuge, assisting in the evacuation of Afghan women and children. A powerful image of her cradling an Afghan infant at Kabul’s airport—captioned “I love my job”—went viral and captured her compassion and dedication. Tragically, on August 26, 2021, she was killed in a suicide bombing outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, one of 13 U.S. service members to fall that day.

Her selfless actions, alongside her sister servicewomen—particularly in screening female evacuees—are credited with saving an estimated 124,000 lives during the evacuation.

• Gee and her 12 fellow service members killed in the attack were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
• USS Iwo Jima’s gym was dedicated to her memory in September 2024.
• A stretch of Interstate 80 in California was designated the “Sgt. Gee Memorial Highway” in her honor, and a street in West Roseville was named Nicole Gee Drive, with her family participating in its ceremonial unveiling.
• Oakmont High School established a Memorial Scholarship in her name.
• The Women Veterans Alliance created the annual “Beyond the Call of Duty Award” to honor her service.

Tributes:

• Her father called her “a warrior” and “my hero,” especially after seeing the viral photo of her caring for an Afghan baby.
• At her memorial in Roseville, her sister described her as “a true Marine’s Marine,” recalling her as someone passionate, self-driven, adventurous, and deeply caring.
• A heartfelt tribute from her close friend and fellow Marine captured the grief of loss: “We were boots together… Roommates for over 3 years… We’ve been attached at the hip… Her last breath was taken doing what she loved—helping people… Then there was an explosion. And just like that, she’s gone.”