WASHINGTON — The Pentagon on Tuesday identified four of the six American troops killed in the opening hours of the war with Iran.
Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Spc. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, died Saturday in Kuwait from an Iranian drone attack.
WATCH: Winter Haven soldier among 6 killed in opening hours of war with Iran
All soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit based in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Pentagon logo in the briefing room, following the United States and Israel-led strikes on Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, March 2, 2026.Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
All six died in the same attack at Shuaiba port in Kuwait, a commercial harbor that doubles as a logistics hub through which the U.S. military ships tactical vehicles and supplies into the region.
The other two names are being withheld until a day after the next of kin have been notified. An additional 18 service members were wounded in the strike.
Damage to buildings on a Kuwaiti military base which hosts American troops.Planet Labs PBC
The six represent the first Americans killed in action in the joint U.S.-Israel war against Iran.
The joint U.S.-Israel campaign entered its fourth day Tuesday, with American forces having struck more than 1,700 targets inside Iran as fighting spread across at least a dozen countries.
Trump and top Pentagon officials warned the toll is expected to rise.
"We expect to take additional losses, and as always, we will work to minimize U.S. losses," Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday.
The City of Winter Haven released the following statement:
The City of Winter Haven extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fellow service members of Captain Cody A. Khork, a Winter Haven native who served our nation with honor.
Captain Khork was one of four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who lost their lives on March 1 in Kuwait while supporting military operations overseas.
Captain Khork was a graduate of Lake Region High School (2008) and Florida Southern College (2014). He enlisted in the National Guard in 2009 and later commissioned as a Military Police Officer in the Army Reserve in 2014. During his service, he deployed to Saudi Arabia in 2018, Guantanamo Bay in 2021, and Poland in 2024.
Throughout his military career, Captain Khork received numerous medals and honors recognizing his service, leadership, and commitment to others.
Friends remember Cody as someone who was easygoing, always smiling, and the kind of person who looked out for the people around him — the type of friend who made it feel like no time had passed when you ran into him around town.
Winter Haven will remember Captain Khork with gratitude and honor.
Please keep his family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.
Khork's family released the following statement to Tampa Bay 28:
"It is with profound sorrow and immense pride that we share these words about Cody, a man whose life was defined by devotion, character, and service. Cody was truly the life of the party, known for his infectious spirit, generous heart, and deep care for those who served alongside him and for everyone blessed to know him.
From an early age, Cody felt a calling to serve his country. He began that journey by enlisting in the Army Reserve and continued on a path of honor and leadership through Florida Southern College’s ROTC program. That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was.
Cody also possessed a great love for history and earned a degree in political science, pursuits that reflected both his sharp mind and his sincere appreciation for the principles and sacrifices that have shaped our nation. He was deeply patriotic and took great pride in serving something greater than himself.
Above all, Cody found the love of his life and carried that same devotion into both his personal life and his service to this country. He lived with purpose, loved deeply, and served honorably. His legacy will endure in the lives he touched, the example he set, and the love of country and family that defined him."
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