Procession today for sailor Maxton Soviak, killed in Afghanistan

The body of a sailor killed in a suicide bombing at Afghanistan's Kabul airport will return home today. The remains of Navy Fleet Marine Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Maxton "Max" Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, are scheduled to arrive at 10:25 a.m. at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. A private procession will travel from the airport along the Ohio Turnpike, passing through Lorain County as it heads west. At U.S. Route 250 in Erie County, the public is invited to join in escorting Soviak's body to Morman-Hinman-Tanner Funeral Home in his hometown. "All members of the community are invited and encouraged to pay their respects to Corpsman Soviak and his family along the entire public processional route," Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth said. "Please exercise caution if parking along a road right-of-way to ensure that your vehicle is entirely off of the traveled portion of the roadway." Veterans service organizations with motorcycle escort units are asked to stage at the commercial vehicle transfer lot near the Turnpike's toll booths at Exit 118 no later than 11:30 a.m. By the same deadline, public safety vehicles such as fire engines, ambulances and police cruisers are asked to stage at CertainTeed Corp., 11519 U.S. Route 250. Soviak was one of 13 service members killed Aug. 26 in a suicide bombing at the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The attack also took the lives of roughly 170 civilians, according to defense department estimates. After attending the EHOVE Career Center and Edison High School, where he played football and wrestled for the Chargers, Soviak enlisted in the Navy in September 2017. He had attended Hospital Corpsman School in Texas, Navy Medical Readiness and Training Command in Guam and Field Medical Training Battalion West, Camp Pendleton, California. At Camp Pendleton, he had been assigned to the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. In Kabul, he had been supporting Operation Allies Refuge, assisting embassy workers and thousands of at-risk civilians such as interpreters who have helped the anti-terror war effort over the past 20 years. "He was a hero who died serving with his Marine brothers helping to save fellow countrymen and our Afghan allies," said U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Cincinnati. "May the lives he worked to save be a comfort to all who knew and loved him," said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland. "His selflessness and heroism will be his legacy." According to his obituary, Soviak's friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, at the Edison High School Field House, 2603 State Route 113 E., Milan. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Edison High School Stadium. A private burial will follow. Family members are accepting donations to the Max Soviak Memorial Fund. Deposits can be made at any Civista Bank, or checks can be mailed to Civista Bank, 24 E. Main St., Berlin Heights, OH 44814. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.