as natasha chen reports, they were also a cross section of the country they died fighting for. >> reporter: they were young. they were passionate. they believed in their mission. >> ladies and gentlemen, as we all know, the freedom we enjoy as americans isn't free. >> reporter: across the u.s., the families and hometown community of these 13 service members are grappling with loss after a suicide bomb attack killed them and more than 170 others outside kabul's international airport on thursday. a moment of slins wilence was hr jared schmitz. and a gathering of friends remembered 23-year-old deegan page. his family said that he was a long time boy scout, loved hunting and the outdoors. >> he was kind. he was one of the nicest persons