Marine Corp Lance Cpl Kareem M. Nikoui

KIA Aug. 26, 2021 Kabul, Afghanistan

Friends and family are mourning the death of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Mae'Lee Grant Nikoui, a California native who was one of 13 American service members killed Thursday in an explosion in Afghanistan.

In a statement, the city of Norco said Nikoui graduated from Norco High School in 2019 after joining JROTC, and then became a Marine. Norco is about 30 miles south of San Bernardino and about 50 miles southeast of Los Angles. City officials in a statement said Nikoui's name will be engraved on the “Lest We Forget Wall” at the George A. Ingalls Veterans Memorial Plaza.

"The City of Norco respectfully salutes the service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Kabul, Afghanistan, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time," the statement said, adding that Nikoui "was committed to serving his country and is survived by his mother, father and siblings."

The Department of Defense confirmed Nikoui's death on Saturday. His father told the Daily Beast that he had been stationed at Camp Pendleton, and often came home for the weekends with other Marines. Nikoui's family did not return requests for comment from USA TODAY.

Steve Nikoui told The Daily Beast that he is upset with President Joe Biden, and is trying to "respect the office," although he supported former President Donald Trump.

"I blame my own military leaders. ... Biden turned his back on him. That's it," Nikoui said.

And he told Reuters: "I'm really disappointed in the way that the president has handled this, even more so the way the military has handled it. The commanders on the ground should have recognized this threat and addressed it."

Thursday night, Biden vowed, "We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay."

In a statement, the Norco High School Air Force JROTC said the 20-year-old Nikoui was "one of the best" of its 2019 graduates.

"Kareem was set on being a Marine & always wanted to serve his country. Kareem made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and his memory will live on forever," the JROTC said in a statement.

Congressman Ken Calvert, who represents Norco area, said he'd spoken with Nikoui's family to express his condolences.

"As a proud Marine, Lance Corporal Nikoui and his unit put themselves in harms way in order to provide safety to others. That’s the definition of courage. That’s the embodiment of the Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis," Calvert said in a statement. "Through his brave actions, Lance Corporal Nikoui remained faithful to his fellow Marines, his country, and our citizens."

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger saluted the sacrifice of the fallen.

"These fallen heroes answered the call to go into harm’s way to do the honorable work of helping others.  We are proud of their service and deeply saddened by their loss," he said in a statement. "The sacrifices Marines make on behalf of freedom must never go unnoticed or unappreciated. I ask that you keep these Marines and service members, and especially their families, in your thoughts and prayers.”

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.

Source: www.usatoday.com