Just days before the deadly drone strike in Iran, 20-year-old Sgt. Declan Coady shared hopeful news with his father — a conversation that would soon take on heartbreaking new meaning.
The Pentagon has identified four of the six U.S. service members who lost their lives in an Iranian drone attack on March 1 during a major military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury.
The victims were named as Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of Minnesota; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Iowa.
All four soldiers served in the Army Reserve’s 103rd Sustainment Command, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Their duties focused on logistics, ensuring deployed troops had the food, equipment, and supplies needed to operate.
‘Sacrifice’
After their deaths were confirmed, military leaders paid tribute to the service members, honoring their dedication and the sacrifice they made in service to their country.
“Their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of their families, will never be forgotten,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve Command.
Maj. Gen. Todd Erskine of the 79th Theater Sustainment Command described the fallen soldiers as individuals who represent the country at its best.
“Our nation is kept safe by people like these — brave men and women who put it all on the line every single day,” Erskine said.
Trump weighs in
“America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against basically civilization,” Donald Trump said in a phone interview with the Daily Mail.
Speaking about the fallen soldiers, the 79-year-old president acknowledged the loss and suggested more casualties could occur as the conflict continues. “They’re great people,” he told the outlet from his Mar-a-Lago resort home. “And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately. It could happen continuously — it could happen again.”
Trump then predicted the war with Iran — “as strong as it is, it’s a big country” — would “take four weeks — or less.”
“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That’s the way it is. Likely be more,” the president added regarding potential U.S. military fatalities.
As the nation comes to terms with the scale of the loss, attention has turned to the lives behind the headlines — the young men and women whose futures were cut short by the attack.
Promising young soldier remembered
Among those killed was Sgt. Declan Coady, a young soldier whose story has resonated with many Americans.
The West Des Moines native enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2023 as an information technology specialist and, despite being one of the youngest in his class, quickly impressed instructors with his skill and dedication.
“Declan was more than a soldier — he was a son, a family member, a friend, and a light in the lives of those who knew him,” his aunt, Marianne Crandall, wrote on a GoFundMe page created to support the family. “He served his country with honor, courage, and dedication, embodying the very best of what it means to wear the uniform.”
The fundraiser, launched to help cover expenses after the tragedy, had raised more than $41,000 of its $75,000 goal as of March 4.
Family mourns
During his service, Coady earned the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon, reflecting his commitment to the role he proudly embraced.
According to reports, just a week before his death, Coady told his father he had been recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant.
“He was very good at what he did,” his father, Andrew Coady, told the Associated Press (AP).
While deployed in Kuwait, the 20-year-old was also continuing his studies online at Drake University in Des Moines. He was pursuing coursework in cybersecurity, information systems, and computer science, hoping to one day become a commissioned officer. His sister, Keira Coady, said the loss still feels unreal.
“I still don’t fully think it’s real,” Keira told AP. “I just remember all of our conversations about what he was going to do when he came back.”
Following his death, Coady was promoted from specialist to sergeant — officially receiving the rank he had worked so hard to earn.
Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and fellow service members grieving these devastating losses. Behind every uniform is a loved one whose life and future meant everything to those around them.
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