Marine Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover

KIA Aug. 26, 2021 Kabul, Afghanistan

Everyone looked up to Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover.

He was the oldest of three siblings in his family, so his two younger siblings always admired him, his father, Darin Hoover, said. He was the first grandchild born on either side of his family, so all the cousins, nieces and nephews looked up to him, too.

“Everybody would go to him because that’s just the personality that he had,” Darin Hoover said. “He was a born leader.”

Darin Taylor Hoover Jr., 31, was leading his fellow Marines on Thursday when a suicide bombing at the Kabul, Afghanistan, airport killed him and 12 other U.S. service members. Hoover’s family confirmed to KSL-TV on Friday that he was killed in the attack, which also left more than 160 Afghans dead.

“He was helping those that are less fortunate, those that can’t help themselves, serving his country — the one thing that he’s always wanted to do,” Darin Hoover told KSL-TV.

His son was 11 years old when the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks took place, Darin Hoover said. From that moment on, Taylor knew he wanted to serve.

He didn’t know how he wanted to serve until he was in high school, when Marine Corps recruiters came to the school. Taylor knew that was the way to go, Darin Hoover said.

“He loved his country,” Darin Hoover said. “It meant more to him than anything else, besides his family.”

Taylor had been in the Marines for 11 years when he died, Darin Hoover said. He was currently on his third deployment to Afghanistan.

Taylor and his father hunted, camped, fished and boated together, Darin Hoover said.

“He loved life,” Darin said.

Taylor was a “rambunctious” kid who started playing football when he was 8 years old, his father added.

“Absolutely loved it — mean son of a gun on the field,” Darin said.

But once Taylor got off the field, he was a “teddy bear” who lit up the room whenever he walked in, his father said.

Taylor’s fellow Marines had tremendous respect for him, Darin Hoover said. Even the higher-ups knew he was a great leader, he added.

“I pray that this wasn’t in vain, and deep in my heart of hearts I know that it wasn’t,” Darin Hoover said. “Because that’s just the type of man he was, doing what he needed to do and getting the job done for those that couldn’t do it for themselves, and he was standing out front leading his men.”

Source: www.eastidahonews.com

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