Rylee McCollum Biography – Wiki
Rylee McCollum was a Marine and future father from Wyoming was among 13 American soldiers and more than 100 Afghans killed in a suicide bombing Thursday near Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, Wyoming state officials said Friday.
Rylee McCollum of Jackson was among the dead, authorities said.
Age
Rylee McCollum has died at the age of 20-years-old.
Family & Siblings
“I am devastated to learn that Wyoming lost one of our own in yesterday’s terrorist attack in Kabul,” Gov. Mark Gordon said in a statement thanking McCollum for his service.
McCollum attended Jackson Hole High School and Summit Innovations School, graduating in 2019.
The Jackson Hole News & Guide reported that McCollum was “a brother, son, friend, husband and future father of a baby who will be born in three weeks.”
Roice McCollum, Rylee’s older sister, confirmed to the Casper Star-Tribune, the Wyoming state newspaper, that McCollum was expecting a baby in three weeks.
“He wanted to be a Marine all his life and carried his rifle in diapers and cowboy boots,” McCollum’s sister told the Star-Tribune. “He was determined to be in the infantry … Rylee wanted to be a history teacher and wrestling coach when he finished serving his country. He is a tough, kind and caring boy who had an impact on everyone he met. His joke and wit brought so much joy. ”
Chi McCollum, another of Rylee’s sisters, called her brother “my hero, our hero, an … American hero” in a Facebook post on Friday.
“My heart is completely shattered,” McCollum wrote. “I love you so much.”
Earlier this month, McCollum wrote a Facebook post in which she told her brother to “stay safe” and added, “I can’t wait for you to come back to meet my niece.”
Cause of Death
A Marine and expectant father from Wyoming was among the 13 American troops and more than a hundred Afghans killed in a suicide bombing Thursday near Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, Wyoming state officials said Friday.
Rylee McCollum of Jackson was among the dead, officials said.
“I’m devastated to learn Wyoming lost one of our own in yesterday’s terrorist attack in Kabul,” Gov. Mark Gordon said in a statement thanking McCollum for his service.
“Saying that I am grateful for Rylee’s service to our country does not begin to encapsulate the grief and sadness I feel today as a mother and as an American. My heart and prayers are with Rylee’s family, friends, and the entire Jackson community,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow said.
“We will find many ways to honor Rylee for this ultimate and untimely sacrifice in the coming months and years – but for now, my arms are wrapped around Rylee’s loved ones from afar and I pray they find some comfort.”
The U.S. Department of Defense did not immediately confirm McCollum’s death of her or her of her.
“It is with extremely heavy hearts that we learned several Marines and other service members were killed and wounded in the Kabul attacks today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families as they are notified of this devastating loss,” David Berger, commandant of the Marine Corps, said in a statement.
The death toll from the blast includes 11 U.S. Marines, a Navy hospital corpsman, and one Army soldier, American officials said. At least 18 U.S. service members were injured. It was the deadliest day for American forces in Afghanistan since August 2011.
About 169 Afghan people died, officials told the Associated Press. CBS News was reporting that number at 170.
