LOCAL NEWS

Utah Marine recovering after being injured in Kabul airport attack

Sep 10, 2021, 3:47 PM | Updated: 3:56 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — The Carbon County community is rallying around a Utah Marine who was injured in the suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport on Aug. 26 that killed 13 U.S. service members and dozens of Afghans.

According to Marine spokesperson Capt. Johnny Henderson, 15 Marines are receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Family members confirmed this includes Utah native Cpl. Wyatt Wilson of Carbon County.

Last week, the student body at Carbon High School, where Wilson graduated in 2017, according to school Principal Jarad Hardy, gathered to wish him well.

According to Hardy, members of the student government didn’t hesitate in coordinating a schoolwide picture event after hearing that Wilson was one of the injured Marines.

On Friday, the student body filled the football field bleachers in blue t-shirts for a picture. Afterward, Hardy said students wrote letters of encouragement that will be sent to Wilson.

“Our saying around here is once a Dino, always a Dino, and so that was just us following the philosophy we’ve adopted that one of our own was hitting hard times and we wanted just to reach out to be able to encourage him and help him out,” Hardy said.

According to a GoFundMe* set up for Wilson and his young family, he was seriously injured in the Aug. 26 suicide bombing in Afghanistan that killed 13 U.S. service members and dozens of Afghans.

Wilson sustained several injuries to his chest and face and has had surgery to repair his jaw. He also suffered multiple shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and extremities and will need additional surgeries.

However, over the weekend, Wilson got to meet a fellow Marine he rescued after the bombing — Cpl. Kelsee Lainhart of Indiana — in a tender moment.

In a Caring Bridge blog post, Lainhart’s parents shared that Wilson helped retrieve and get her into a medivac vehicle after the explosion.

“He also sustained some serious injuries and has been recovering in the ICU. He had asked to see Kelsee once he was able to get out of bed as well. So they both made it to a chair for the first time. His parents, wife, and nurses wheeled him down to Kelsee’s room and he sat in his wheelchair outside her room as anyone entering her room needs to have protective capes and gloves. His jaws are currently wired shut so he brought a whiteboard with him to write on so they could communicate with one another. They communicated back and forth for about 15 mins. Before he left he asked if he could be wheeled in to touch her hand so we agreed and they put the gloves and cape on him so he could enter her room. It was very touching,” wrote Stacey Lainhart.

Lainhart’s parents wrote the two didn’t know each other before the bombing, but they will have a bond for life now.

According to Henderson, one of the 15 injured Marines was in critical condition while three were in serious condition and 11 were in stable condition as of Tuesday morning.


*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

11 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

11 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

12 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

13 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

14 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

15 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Utah Marine recovering after being injured in Kabul airport attack