President Donald Trump will attend Saturday’s dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the six U.S. Service members killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait, the White House confirmed Friday.
The transfer will honor the soldiers who died Sunday when a drone struck a U.S. Base in Kuwait, amid escalating tensions following large-scale strikes by U.S. And Israeli forces across Iran. According to the Pentagon, the fallen service members are Captain Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida. Sergeant 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sergeant 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sergeant Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; and Major Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa.
All six service members were assigned to the Des Moines-based 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides logistical support including food, fuel, water, ammunition, and transportation. The loss is a significant blow to the command and the broader military community.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has confirmed her attendance at the dignified transfer for Major Jeffrey R. O’Brien and Sergeant Declan J. Coady. Governor Reynolds stated that losing four soldiers from Iowa in three months “is a sobering reminder that our freedom is not free,” and acknowledged the sacrifice made by the soldiers and their families.
President Trump, in a statement released Sunday, called the service members “true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.” He also warned that “there will likely be more” U.S. Service members killed “before it ends,” despite efforts to prevent further casualties.
The dignified transfer is scheduled to take place at Dover Air Force Base, a common location for honoring fallen service members returned to U.S. Soil. Representative Zach Nunn initially announced the ceremony, emphasizing its importance in honoring those killed in action.
As of Wednesday, U.S. Embassies in the Middle East and Africa urged American citizens to depart the region and register with the State Department, as the conflict continues. President Trump reported Tuesday that over 9,000 Americans had “safely returned home” since the beginning of the war.
The Ministry of Interior-Qatar announced Wednesday that residents living near the U.S. Embassy were being evacuated as a precautionary measure, with temporary accommodation provided.
