Six U.S. service members assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command were killed when a projectile struck a fortified tactical operations center at Kuwait’s Shuaiba port. Four of the fallen had served together in Kuwait in 2019, underscoring close unit bonds. The trailer-style center lacked overhead protection from drones or missiles; identification and next-of-kin notifications are ongoing, while communities and governors have offered condolences and launched fundraisers for the families.
Six U.S. Service Members Killed in Iran Strike Had Deep Bonds — Four Served Together in Kuwait in 2019
Sgt. Declan Coady was among the youngest in his class, remembered by his sister as someone passionate about his varying interests like video games, anime and fencing. - US Army
Six U.S. service members assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command were killed after a projectile penetrated defenses and struck a fortified tactical operations center at Kuwait’s Shuaiba port, the Pentagon said. The attack came on the second day of intensified U.S. and Israeli operations targeting Iran. Four of the fallen previously served together in Kuwait in 2019, highlighting the close bonds within the unit.
Capt. Cody Khork was known for his "infectious spirit" and living a life defined by devotion, character and service. - US Army
What Happened
Officials described the facility as a triple-wide trailer surrounded by concrete barriers commonly used to protect military structures from vehicle-borne attacks. Those lateral protections offered limited security; there was no overhead shielding to stop a drone or missile, a source familiar with the scene told CNN. Defense authorities said a projectile penetrated air defenses and struck the center. Identification and next-of-kin notifications are ongoing.
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, a mother of two enjoyed gardening, spending time with her family and was known for her constant smile. - US Army
Fallen Service Members
All six were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit based in Iowa. Their lives spanned decades of service, family commitments and community involvement. Below are concise profiles based on statements from family, colleagues and officials.
Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens made those around him feel important and was a double black belt in Taekwondo. - US Army
Declan Coady, 20 — Des Moines, Iowa
Enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2023 as an information technology specialist, Coady was completing online studies in information systems, cybersecurity and computer science at Drake University. An Eagle Scout, fencer and gym enthusiast, he was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant. Family members described him as quiet but passionate about the things he loved.
Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien is remembered as someone who was unafraid to speak his mind. - US Army
Cody Khork, 35 — Lakeland, Florida
Khork enlisted in the National Guard in 2009 and later commissioned as a military police officer in the Army Reserve. A Florida Southern College graduate with a degree in political science, he deployed to Saudi Arabia, Guantanamo Bay and Poland. Family members remembered him as "the life of the party" with a generous spirit; a fundraiser has been set up to help cover travel and family expenses.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan - NA/Irene Mary/Facebook
Nicole Amor, 39 — White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Amor, a mother of two, enlisted in the National Guard in 2005 and transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006. She served in Kuwait and Iraq in 2019. Loved for her gardening and outdoor activities with her children, her family and state officials honored her commitment to service; a GoFundMe has been created to build a greenhouse in her memory.
Noah Tietjens, 42 — Bellevue, Nebraska
Tietjens enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2006 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic and was on his third deployment to Kuwait. A martial-arts instructor with a double black belt, he mentored fellow soldiers and community members. His local studio established a college fund for his son.
Jeffrey O’Brien, 45 — Iowa
A computer engineering graduate of Iowa State University, O’Brien served nearly two decades in the reserves and commissioned as a signal corps officer. He was serving in support of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command. Family members described him as a devoted husband and father, a man of faith, and a dedicated public servant.
Robert M. Marzan, 54 — Sacramento, California
Chief Warrant Officer Three Marzan was supporting the 1st Theater Sustainment Command and is believed to have been killed at the scene; officials said final positive identification by a medical examiner was pending. Family and friends remembered him as a down-to-earth leader and loyal friend.
Reactions and Support
State governors and community leaders issued condolences. Families and communities have launched GoFundMe pages and college funds to assist with funeral expenses, travel costs and education for survivors. Military awards and prior deployments for each service member were noted in official statements.
"It goes to show the camaraderie in the unit... that these soldiers felt so comfortable with each other that they would actually go back six years later and they came in the same unit," retired Col. Josef Sujet, who served with the 103rd in 2019, told CNN.
Investigations into the strike, the circumstances of the attack and full identification procedures remain underway. Officials continue to notify next of kin and coordinate support for the families.
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