The Pentagon on Wednesday released the names of four of six United States Army Reserve soldiers killed in a drone attack at the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait on March 1 while supporting Operation Epic Fury.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced the names during a somber press conference alongside Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The fallen service members, all assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, were identified as Captain Cody Khork, 35, of Lakeland, Florida; Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sergeant Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa.
“It is with profound sadness and gratitude that I share the names of four of the six fallen heroes,” General Caine stated from the Pentagon briefing room. The identities of two additional soldiers killed in the attack remain withheld pending completion of next-of-kin notifications.
The soldiers were conducting logistical and operational support missions when the unmanned aircraft system struck their position. The 103rd Sustainment Command provides critical support to United States forces deployed overseas, ensuring the supply lines and operational capabilities that enable American military operations in the region.
General Caine addressed the families directly during his remarks. “To the families of our fallen, we grieve with you today and we look forward to welcoming your family members home at Dover in the coming days,” he said. “To our Gold Star families, to our wounded warriors and their loved ones, we will never forget your sacrifice. Our nation stands with you and we are eternally grateful for your courage, your resiliency, your devotion to this mission and to our nation.”
The attack remains under active investigation by military officials. Lieutenant General Robert Harter, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General of United States Army Reserve Command, acknowledged that the loss has reverberated throughout the entire force.
This incident represents a significant escalation in the ongoing Operation Epic Fury, which has seen American forces conduct extensive strikes against Iranian targets. Military officials reported that United States forces struck more than 1,700 targets in Iran during the first 72 hours of the operation.
The Port of Shuaiba serves as a critical logistics hub for American military operations in the region. The use of drone warfare against American personnel conducting support operations underscores the evolving nature of threats facing United States forces deployed abroad.
The fallen service members will be returned to American soil at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where they will receive full military honors. The names of the remaining two soldiers will be released once all family notifications have been completed, according to Pentagon officials.
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