Nicole Gee
{{Short description|United States Marine Corps Sergeant (1998–2021)}}
{{Infobox military person
| image = Military Portrait Sgt. Nicole Gee (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Official military portrait of Gee
| birth_date = May 1, 1998
| birth_place = Vail, Colorado, U.S.
| death_date = August 26, 2021 (aged 23)
| death_place = Kabul, Afghanistan
| death_cause = Suicide bombing attack
| placeofburial = Arlington National Cemetery
| nickname =
| birth_name = Nicole Leeann Herrera
| allegiance = United States
| branch = United States Marine Corps
| serviceyears = 2017–2021
| rank = Sergeant
| battles = Operation Allies Refuge
| awards = Congressional Gold Medal
See full list
| alma_mater =
| spouse = Jarod Gee
| children =
}}
Nicole Leeann Gee (née Herrera; May 1, 1998 – August 26, 2021) was a United States Marine Corps Sergeant who was killed in Afghanistan during Operation Allies Refuge. She was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
According to a U.S. Department of Defense memorial plaque, "Sgt. Gee's actions, in addition to the actions of Sgt. Rosario Pichardo, and that of the other servicewomen working in the screening of female evacuees saved, on estimation, over 124,000 lives in America's largest airlift operation ever."{{Cite web |last= |date=May 29, 2022 |title=Nicole Gee, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps |url=https://foundationforwomenwarriors.org/nicole-gee-sergeant/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Foundation for Women Warriors |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=2021-08-28 |title=Among the Troops Who Died, Two Women on the Front Line |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/28/us/soldiers-killed-in-afghanistan.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Skovlund |first=Joshua |date=2024-08-28 |title=USS Iwo Jima dedicates ship gym to Sgt. Nicole Gee |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/nicole-gee-uss-iwo-jima-gym-dedication/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Task & Purpose |language=en-US}}
Biography
Nicole Leeann Herrera was born on May 1, 1998, in Vail, Colorado.{{Cite web |title=Gold Star Family Registry |url=https://www.goldstarfamilyregistry.com/heroes/Nicole-Gee-480762 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.goldstarfamilyregistry.com |language=en}} She grew up in Roseville, California.{{Cite web |last=Danielson |first=James |date=2024-12-05 |title=Sgt Nicole Gee |url=https://www.museumofthemarine.org/sgt-nicole-gee/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Carolina Museum of the Marine |language=en-US}} She was a graduate of Oakmont High School with a 4.1 GPA, where she played on the school softball team.{{Cite web |title=Gee, Nicole Leeann {{!}} Mid American Veterans Museum |url=https://mavm.org/storiesarchive/gee-nicole-leeann/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=mavm.org}}{{Cite web |last=Cullinane |first=Susannah |date=2021-08-29 |title=Marine killed in Kabul attack described as a ‘light in this dark world’ |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/29/us/kabul-attack-victim-nicole-gee/index.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=CNN |language=en}} She met her husband Jarod Gee (a fellow Marine) while in high school, and they were married in a private ceremony in August 2016.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-09-22 |title=Mourners in California honor 3 Marines killed in Afghanistan |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/military-honor/faces-the-fallen/2021/09/22/mourners-in-california-honor-3-marines-killed-in-afghanistan/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Military Times |language=en}}
In 2017, Gee enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. She went through recruit training at Parris Island, Infantry School at Camp Lejeune, Aviation Accession and Primary Military Occupational Specialty School in Pensacola, Florida, and Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School in 29 Palms, California.{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.sgtnicolegeememorialfoundation.org/about |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Sgt. Nicole Gee Memorial Foundation |language=en-US}} Gee and her husband Jarod Gee were stationed together at Camp Lejeune.{{Cite web |last=Macht |first=Daniel |date=2024-07-18 |title=Family members of fallen Roseville Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee speak in support of Donald Trump at RNC |url=https://www.kcra.com/article/roseville-marine-sgt-nicole-gee-gold-star-family-members-donald-trump-rnc/61637119 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=KCRA |language=en}} She was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, where she provided maintenance and support of ground electronics transmission systems.
File:Nicole Gee Aboard MV-22B.jpg in April 2021]]
She deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in February 2021, and was stationed for a period on the USS Iwo Jima.{{Cite web |title=USS Iwo Jima Dedicates Memorial in Honor of Marine Corps Sergeant Nicole Gee |url=https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/News-Stories/Article/3905378/uss-iwo-jima-dedicates-memorial-in-honor-of-marine-corps-sergeant-nicole-gee/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic |language=en-US}} During her deployment, Gee's stops included Spain, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait. Nicole was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant while in Kuwait on August 2, 2021.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-08-29 |title=Slain Marine who cradled baby at Kabul airport loved her job |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/29/nicole-gee-kabul-suicide-bombing-507144 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Politico |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Brassil |first=Gillian |date=September 1, 2021 |title=Marines remember Sgt. Gee as selfless, brave |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/761271456/?match=1&terms=Nicole%20Gee |work=The Macon Telegraph |pages=A4}} Gee set weightlifting records at Al-Jaber Air Base, and achieved perfect scores in the Combat Fitness Test. She described herself as a "positive mental health advocate."
= Operation Allies Refuge and death =
File:Gee with Infant in Kabul (cropped).jpg [https://x.com/DeptofDefense/status/1428841141965836293/photo/2 X post])]]
Gee deployed to Afghanistan in support of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region as part of Operation Allies Refuge.{{Cite book |last=Quilty |first=Andrew |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/jj.1176756?turn_away=true&searchText=Nicole%20Gee&searchUri=/action/doBasicSearch?Query=Nicole+Gee&so=rel&ab_segments=0/basic_search_gsv2/control&refreqid=fastly-default:34828f104f87e0efad1406393bb15b4c |title=August in Kabul: America's Last Days in Afghanistan |date=2022 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing Ltd}} While there, she served on a Female Engagement Team where she facilitated evacuation support for Afghan women and children at Kabul International Airport.{{Cite web |last=Keveney |first=Bill |title=California Marine Nicole Gee, 23, who cradled baby at Kabul airport, killed in Afghanistan attack |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/08/28/marine-sgt-nicole-gee-23-killed-afghanistan-airport-attack/5637674001/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Caltrider |first=Mac |date= |title=‘She Was a Light in This Dark World’ — Family, Friends Remember Sgt. Nicole Gee |url=https://coffeeordie.com/nicole-gee-afghanistan |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Coffee or Die Magazine |language=en}} Six days before her death, Gee made a post on social media which included a photograph of her holding an Afghan infant, where she remarked "I love my job."{{Cite web |last=Baehr |first=Jasmine |date=2024-07-05 |title=US Marine Sgt. Nicole M. Gee, killed in Afghanistan, 'loved her job': 'Willing to take that risk' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/us-marine-sgt-nicole-m-gee-killed-afghanistan-loved-her-job-willing-take-risk |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Father of Slain Marine Nicole Gee, Who Cradled Baby at Kabul Airport, Calls Daughter a 'Warrior' |url=https://people.com/politics/father-of-slain-marine-nicole-gee-cradled-afghan-baby-kabul-airport-talks-her-legacy/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=People.com |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=McEnany |first=Kayleigh |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Serenity_in_the_Storm/oL6nEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Nicole+Gee&pg=PA110&printsec=frontcover |title=Serenity in the Storm: Living Through Chaos by Leaning on Christ |date=2023-05-02 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-63758-730-0 |language=en}} After her death, the photo went viral.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-21 |title=Murphy Honors Life of Sgt. Nicole Gee on House Floor {{!}} Congressman Greg Murphy |url=https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-honors-life-sgt-nicole-gee-house-floor |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=murphy.house.gov |language=en}}{{Citation |last=Greenburg |first=Jennifer |title=Conclusion |date=2023 |work=At War with Women |pages=198–210 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctv2f4vqzb.11 |access-date=2025-02-17 |series=Military Humanitarianism and Imperial Feminism in an Era of Permanent War |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-1-5017-6773-9}}
Her fellow Marines shared that Gee "worked tirelessly, forgoing sleep and rest to help as many Afghan women and children escape as she could."{{Cite web |title=Representative Kiley Honors Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee on the House Floor |url=https://kiley.house.gov/posts/representative-kiley-honors-marine-sergeant-nicole-gee-on-the-house-floor |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Kevin Kiley |language=en}} In Tim Kennedy's memoir Scars and Stripes: An Unapologetically American Story of Fighting the Taliban, UFC Warriors, and Myself, he recounted meeting Gee while in Afghanistan, and that she had helped him to search the women who had been rescued before bringing them on the base. Kennedy wrote, "She wasn't going through the motions - she greeted every Afghan with a smile. She loved her job and her service."{{Cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Tim |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Scars_and_Stripes/KRlJEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Nicole+Gee&pg=PA373&printsec=frontcover |title=Scars and Stripes: An Unapologetically American Story of Fighting the Taliban, UFC Warriors, and Myself |last2=Palmisciano |first2=Nick |date=2022-06-07 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-9821-9093-4 |language=en}}
On August 26, 2021, Gee was killed in an ISIS-K suicide bombing attack in Kabul along with 12 other service members.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-19 |title=Sgt. Nicole Gee remembered at memorial as a ‘Marine’s Marine’ who loved her job |url=https://www.kcra.com/article/memorial-sgt-nicole-gee-sacramento-marine-killed-kabul-airport-attack/37649211 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=KCRA |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Cook |first=Mikael |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Life_and_Death_at_Abbey_Gate/Gu_xEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Nicole+Gee&pg=PA2&printsec=frontcover |title=Life and Death at Abbey Gate: The Fall of Afghanistan and the Operation to Save our Allies |date=2024-02-15 |publisher=Casemate |isbn=978-1-63624-397-9 |language=en}} The Dignified transfer of Gee's remains back to the United States was attended by President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley. Gee is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.{{Cite web |title=Sgt Nicole Gee laid to rest |url=https://www.marines.mil/News/Marines-TV/videoid/815906/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.marines.mil |language=en-US}}
Awards and honors
Gee's military awards include a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NATO Medal, Expert Rifle Qualification Third Award.{{Cite web |title=Nicole Gee |url=https://operationtotw.org/nicole-gee |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Transition Outside the Wire Non-Profit |language=en-US}} In September 2021, Congressman Greg Murphy delivered a tribute speech in honor of Gee on the floor of the House of Representatives, and Congressman Kevin Kiley delivered another in September 2024. On December 16, 2021, President Biden signed H.R. 5142 into law, which posthumously awarded Gee and 12 other service members with the Congressional Gold Medal.{{Cite web |last=Stracqualursi |first=Veronica |date=2021-12-16 |title=Biden signs bill to award Congressional Gold Medal to US service members killed in Kabul airport bombing {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/16/politics/congressional-gold-medal-us-troops-kabul-attack/index.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-12-16 |title=Congressional Gold Medal Bill For Servicemembers Killed In Afghanistan Signed into Law {{!}} Representative Andrew Garbarino |url=https://garbarino.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressional-gold-medal-bill-servicemembers-killed-afghanistan-signed-law |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=garbarino.house.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-12-16 |title=H.R.5142 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal, in commemoration to the servicemembers who perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, during the evacuation of citizens of the United States and Afghan allies at Hamid Karzai International Airport, and for other purposes. |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5142/text |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=United States Congress}}{{Cite web |date=2021-11-20 |title=Sgt. Nicole Gee Of Sacramento To Be Awarded Congressional Gold Medal Posthumously - CBS Sacramento |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/sgt-gee-awarded-congressional-gold-metal/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}
In 2024, the USS Iwo Jima unveiled a memorial honoring Gee's life and service and renamed the ship's gymnasium the Sergeant Gee Memorial Gym in her honor.{{Cite web |title=Sgt. Nicole Gee Memorial Gym |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8620548/sgt-nicole-gee-memorial-gym |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=DVIDS |language=en}} In May 2024, the California State Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to dedicate a portion of Interstate 80 as the Nicole Gee Memorial Highway.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-05-24 |title=Assemblyman Joe Patterson Honors Family of Fallen Hero Sergeant Nicole Gee - AD05 {{!}} PATTERSON |url=https://ad05.asmrc.org/2024/05/24/assemblyman-joe-patterson-honors-family-of-fallen-hero-sergeant-nicole-gee/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |language=en-US}} In June of the same year, the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the addition of a new bronze statue honoring Gee to be added to the Veterans Park on Okaloosa Island, Florida.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Jared |date=2024-06-18 |title=Okaloosa County to honor four more women veterans with bronze statues at Veterans Park |url=https://www.getthecoast.com/okaloosa-county-to-honor-four-more-women-veterans-with-bronze-statues-at-veterans-park/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Get The Coast |language=en-US}}
In August 2024, President Donald Trump laid a ceremonial wreath in honor of Gee at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visited her gravestone at Arlington National Cemetery.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-28 |title=Family of Nicole Gee, fallen Roseville Marine, commemorates anniversary with Donald Trump |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/family-nicole-gee-fallen-roseville-213909641.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-02 |title=Military families defend Trump’s cemetery visit {{!}} Arkansas Democrat Gazette |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/sep/02/military-families-defend-trumps-cemetery-visit/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.arkansasonline.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Barrow |first=Bill |date=September 2, 2024 |title=Trump defends Arlington visit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1115977070/?match=1&terms=Nicole%20Gee |work=Valley Morning Star |pages=18}}
= List of additional honors =
- In 2024, the Sgt. Nicole Gee Memorial Foundation was established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in her honor.{{Cite web |title=Sgt. Nicole Gee Memorial Foundation |url=https://www.sgtnicolegeememorialfoundation.org/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Sgt. Nicole Gee Memorial Foundation |language=en-US}}
- The city of Citrus Heights, California and American Legion dedicated a memorial park bench to Gee.{{Cite web |title=Sgt. Nicole Gee Memorial |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8642311/sgt-nicole-gee-memorial |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Sgt. Nicole Gee Memorial |url=https://www.mcrdsd.marines.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2003551426/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.mcrdsd.marines.mil |language=en-US}}
- Since 2021, the Women Veterans Alliance now annually awards the Beyond the Call of Duty Award in honor of Gee.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-06-23 |title=2021 Beyond Call of Duty Award Honoree - Sergeant Nicole Gee |url=https://www.womenveteransalliance.com/2021-beyond-call-of-duty-award-honoree-sergeant-nicole-gee/?srsltid=AfmBOor8RlaCVbpdwpYywV2plGl3eR2DQFj20ED1YPcJDJyuyqZNBb7W |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Women Veterans Alliance |language=en-US}}
- In 2022, the Foundation for Women Warriors published a tribute to Gee.
- The Sgt. Nicole Gee Memorial Scholarship was established by Oakmont High School.
- In 2023, the city of West Roseville named a street "Nicole Gee Drive" in her honor.{{Cite web |last=Wulff |first=Rachel |date=2023-08-28 |title=Roseville street named after fallen Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee - CBS Sacramento |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/roseville-street-named-after-fallen-marine-sgt-nicole-gee/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Jarone |first=Molly |date=June 21, 2023 |title=New Roseville road to be named for fallen Marine Nicole Gee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/974440349/?match=1&terms=Nicole%20Gee |work=The Sacramento Bee |pages=A6}} Gee's family took a ceremonial first drive down the road on a Roseville Fire Department truck, led by the Roseville Police Motor Unit, and followed by a motorcycle contingent of local veterans, while attendees lined the streets waving American flags.{{Cite web |title=Nicole Gee Drive dedication |url=https://www.roseville.ca.us/news/what_s_happening_in_roseville/nicole_gee_drive_dedication |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.roseville.ca.us |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-28 |title=Nicole Gee Drive dedicated to Roseville Marine sergeant killed in Afghanistan |url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/roseville/nicole-gee-drive-roseville-afghanistan-marine/103-5056138e-c966-4165-b10d-6ca200f9120c |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=abc10.com |language=en-US}}
In popular culture
Gee is the subject of a 2022 painting by Alicia Christy, which was featured by the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Lisa |date=2022-06-27 |title=From Conflict to Creativity: The Journeys of Alicia Christy and Miguel Chavez {{!}} Folklife Today |url=https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2022/06/from-conflict-to-creativity-the-journeys-of-alicia-christy-and-miguel-chavez/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=The Library of Congress}}{{Cite web |last=Christy |first=Alicia |last2= |last3= |last4= |title=Honoring Women Who Have Served |url=https://www.acog.org/news/news-articles/2022/03/honoring-women-who-have-served |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.acog.org |language=en}}
ABC 10 News produced a tribute documentary about Gee's life and impact.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gee, Nicole}}
Category:21st-century American military personnel
Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Category:American military personnel killed in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:Military personnel from California
Category:Oakmont High School alumni
Category:People from Roseville, California