The United States Department of Defense has identified four of the six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed in a March 1 drone attack in Kuwait while supporting Operation Epic Fury.
Diaspora Digital Media reported that the soldiers were killed at the Port of Shuaiba during what authorities described as an unmanned aircraft system attack.
All were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, which provides logistical and operational support to U.S. forces overseas.
The fallen service members were identified as Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Lakeland, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt.
1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa.
Two additional soldiers killed in the strike have not yet been publicly identified pending family notification.
Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, chief of Army Reserve and commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command, paid tribute to the soldiers.
“We honor our fallen heroes who served fearlessly and selflessly in defense of our nation,” Harter said. “Their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of their families, will never be forgotten.”
Khork enlisted in the National Guard in 2009 before commissioning as a military police officer in the Army Reserve in 2014.
He deployed to Saudi Arabia in 2018, Guantánamo Bay in 2021 and Poland in 2024. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
Amor joined the National Guard in 2005 as an automated logistics specialist and later transferred to the Army Reserve.
She deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019 and received multiple commendations, including the Army Commendation Medal.
Tietjens entered the Army Reserve in 2006 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic and completed two previous deployments to Kuwait. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star.
Coady, the youngest of the four identified soldiers, enlisted in 2023 as an Army information technology specialist.
He was posthumously promoted to sergeant. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Overseas Service Ribbon.
Maj. Gen. Todd Erskine, commanding general of the 79th Theater Sustainment Command, extended condolences to the families, describing the soldiers as representing “the heart of America.”
The attack comes amid heightened regional tensions and expanded U.S. military operations in the Middle East. Officials said further details would be released as the investigation progresses.
