WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of War has officially released the identities of four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who were killed in action during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury. The soldiers, all assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, died on Sunday, March 1, 2026, when an Iranian unmanned aerial system (UAV) struck a tactical operations center at the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait.
The Fallen Warriors The four soldiers represent the first confirmed American combat deaths in the rapidly expanding war with Iran. They have been identified as:
Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida. A dedicated officer and military police veteran, Khork had previously deployed to Saudi Arabia, Guantanamo Bay, and Poland.
Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska. A seasoned non-commissioned officer, Tietjens was a husband and father known for his deep commitment to his unit and his family in the Omaha area.
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. A mother of two, Amor was reportedly only days away from finishing her tour and returning home when the strike occurred.
Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa. The youngest of the group, Coady was an IT specialist and a student at Drake University. He was posthumously promoted to Sergeant from the rank of Specialist.
Details of the Fatal Strike The incident occurred at approximately 9:00 AM local time on Sunday. According to defense officials, a "Shahed-style" drone managed to evade local air defense batteries and struck a triple-wide trailer being used as a makeshift command post. While Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initially described the facility as "fortified," subsequent reports from within the military have raised concerns that the tactical center lacked sufficient overhead hardening to protect against top-down drone impacts.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) initially reported three deaths, but the toll was revised upward to six fatalities after two missing soldiers were recovered from the debris and a fourth succumbed to critical injuries. The identities of the remaining two service members are being withheld for an additional 24 hours to ensure that all family members have been properly notified.
National Reaction and Investigation President Donald Trump addressed the nation following the identification, stating, "These were the best of America. Their sacrifice in the face of a rogue regime will never be forgotten." Meanwhile, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and Florida officials have ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the fallen.
An investigation is currently underway to determine why the warning sirens at Port Shuaiba failed to activate before the impact. The strike highlights the increasing vulnerability of forward-deployed logistics hubs as Iran continues to utilize high-precision "kamikaze" drones to target U.S. and allied assets across the Persian Gulf. As of Wednesday morning, Operation Epic Fury remains in an active combat phase, with U.S. commanders warning that further losses may be expected as the campaign against the Iranian regime's infrastructure intensifies.
English (US) ·