US Army Reserve Soldiers Who Died in Iran Conflict

On March 3, 2026, the Department of War announced the death of four US Army Reserve soldiers who were supporting Operation Epic Fury.

• Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.
• Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.
• Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.
• Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.

These four soldiers died on March 1, 2026, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack. These Soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa.

Two other service members who were killed have not yet been publicly identified.

The incident is under investigation, as reported by the Department of War.

Strike That Killed US Army Reserve Soldiers

On Sunday, March 1, an Iranian drone targeted the heart of a civilian port in Kuwait, miles away from the main Army base, killing the American soldiers, according to a U.S. official.

The husband of Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Armor, who was part of a supply and logistics unit based in Iowa, told The Associated Press the hub was a shipping container-style building with no defenses.

He said Armor was moved off-base a week before the US-Israeli joint strike on Iran. “They were dispersing because they were in fear that the base they were on was going to get attacked, and they felt it was safer in smaller groups in separate places.”

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell posted on social media that the “secure facility was fortified with 6-foot walls.” Adding the military has “the most extensive Air Defense umbrella in the world over the Middle East right now, and control of the skies is increasing with every wave of airpower.”

President Donald Trump and top defense officials expect more American casualties.

On Monday, Pete Hegseth said the six soldiers were killed inside a “tactical operations center” when a projectile made its way past air defenses. The next day, the Pentagon confirmed it was a drone strike on Port Shuaiba when the names were announced.

Camp Arifjan is the name of the Army base more than 10 miles south of where the soldiers were killed. The operations center was about a mile from the piers where merchant ships offload cargo containers and was surrounded by oil storage tanks, refineries, and a power plant.

On Tuesday evening, the US Army Reserve said the soldiers who were killed “served fearlessly and selflessly in defense of our nation.

“Their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of their families, will never be forgotten. On behalf of the Army Reserve, we express our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, chief of the Army Reserve and the commanding general of the US Army Reserve Command.

Sgt Declan J Coady

The US Army Reserve said Coady was posthumously promoted from specialist, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, and enlisted as an Army IT specialist in 2023.

During his career, he received the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Capt Cody A Khork

Khork was a resident of Lakeland, Florida. He enlisted as a multiple launch rocket system/fire direction specialist in 2009 and commissioned as a military police officer in 2014.

In 2018, he deployed to Saudi Arabia, Guantanamo Bay in 2021, and Poland in 2024. He received multiple awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal.

Sgt 1st Class Nicole M Amor

Amor was a resident of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, who enlisted as an automated logistics specialist in 2005 and transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006. She deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019.

Her awards include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal.

Sgt 1st Class Noah L Tietjens

Tietjens was a resident of Bellevue, Nebraska, who enlisted in 2006 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. He deployed to Kuwait in 2009 and in 2019. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal.

Sources:

AP News: US soldiers were killed in an Iranian drone strike at a civilian port in Kuwait
U.S. Department of War: DoW Identifies Army Casualties

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