'Heartbroken'

BERLIN HEIGHTS — A Berlin Heights man killed in a Thursday terrorist bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, died a hero trying to help others, his family said Friday. In his last conversation with his mother, Navy medic Max Soviak said, "I am going to Afghanistan to help people get out," according to an online post from his mother, Rachel Soviak. "We are very proud of Max for following his calling," she wrote. "There are no words for the brokenness we feel." Maxton W. Soviak died in a suicide bombing attack Thursday in Kabul that killed as many as 170 people with 200 wounded. The attack killed 13 U.S. members of the Armed Forces and wounded 15. The Afghan affiliate of ISIS claimed responsibility. Via the Navy, the Soviak family issued a statement Friday afternoon: "On behalf of the entire Soviak family, we want to thank all those who have extended their support and prayers on the loss of our son, Max. Max was a wonderful son who loved his family, his community and was proud to serve in the U.S. Navy. He was excited about the opportunities the Navy would offer him and planned to make the Navy a career. We are incredibly proud of his service to our country. As we mourn the loss of our son, we also mourn for the loss of the Marines and soldiers who were killed and pray for the speedy recovery of all of those wounded in Afghanistan. Words cannot express how heartbroken we are with this news, and we will miss Max tremendously. As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family, and we respectfully request that you honor our privacy." Soviak was a 2017 graduate of Edison High School and also earned a two-year certificate in electrical technology from EHOVE Career Center. He was on the honor roll in high school and excelled in football. As a senior on the 2016 Chargers team, Soviak made 50 tackles with three sacks and an interception. He earned All-SBC Bay Division honorable mention honors on defense for an Edison team that finished 12-2 and reached a Division V state semifinal for a second-straight season. On offense, Soviak also ran the ball 24 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns. EHOVE officials expressed grief at the news and announced the school would fly the flag at half-mast to honor him and other Americans who died in Kabul serving the U.S. Electrical tech instructor Vince Ragnoni taught Soviak for two years. "Max and I had many good conversations about his future and going into the military. I was proud of him for choosing to serve. He was so friendly, very competitive and was always pulling shenanigans. He liked to get people to laugh," Ragnoni said. "I was honored to have been able to have him as a student. His parents were so supportive, and you knew he was very loved," Ragnoni said. His resume shows that he worked as a lifeguard at Castaway Bay and as a maintenance technician for Alarming Concepts in Sandusky and Harland Mechanical in Norwalk. On Instagram, his sister Marilyn Soviak posted childhood family photos and wrote, "My beautiful, intelligent, beat-to-the-sound of his own drum, annoying, charming baby brother was killed yesterday helping to save lives. He was a medic, there to help people, and now he is gone and my family will never be the same." On Twitter, Griffin Soviak wrote, "I don't have much to say other than I am devastated by my brother's passing. He will always be a role model to me and my personal hero." Gov. Mike DeWine ordered flags at public buildings to be flown at half staff until sunset on Aug. 30 to honor those killed in the Kabul terrorist attack. Officials reacted to the news: • Milan council member Nathaniel Shafer, who is an Afghan war veteran who served in the Air Force: Maxton was well known and well thought of by many members of our community, especially those of us who had the pleasure of being his classmates at Edison. • U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo: Our nation mourns the loss of Navy Corpsman Max Soviak, whose uncommon courage in the face of unfathomable danger ensured the safe passage of countless civilians. We will never be able to repay the debt we owe him, but we will be forever grateful for his willingness to serve when America needed him most. • U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio: Max Soviak, a Navy Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman from Berlin Heights, died a hero serving his country and working to save the lives of those fleeing imminent danger. My thoughts are with his family, who received the hardest news any parent can hear. • U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio: Jane and I are heartbroken by the death of Max Soviak, a Navy Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman from Berlin Heights, who lost his life in the service of his country. He was a hero who died serving with his Marine brothers helping to save fellow countrymen and our Afghan allies. • U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green: We are heartbroken to learn that one of the brave service members that gave their lives yesterday was a native of Northwest Ohio. Max will be remembered for his service to his country – paying the ultimate sacrifice in order to get American citizens out of the country. Read other news coverage about Soviak at the links below. Andy Ouriel, Joe Centers, Mark Hazelwood, Caitlin Nearhood, Tom Jackson and Matt Westerhold contributed to this article.