US soldiers killed in Iranian missile strike were part of unit based in Kentucky
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- Six U.S. servicemen based out of Fort Knox died in an Iranian missile strike in Kuwait.
- CENTCOM confirmed deaths at a civilian port; IDs held until 24 hours after family notification.
- Kentucky officials, including Gov. Beshear, urged support for the soldiers' families.
At least some of the six U.S. soldiers killed by an Iranian missile strike in Kuwait were part of a unit that operates in Fort Knox in Kentucky, according to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
U.S. Central Command confirmed six service members were killed in the attack, which happened Sunday morning at a civilian port in Kuwait. CNN reported the soldiers were assigned to 1st Theater Sustainment Command, which is based out of Fort Knox.
On Tuesday night, the War Department identified four Army Reserve soldiers killed Sunday in Kuwait and clarified they were members of the 103rd Sustainment Command out of Des Moines, Iowa. Beshear said the unit operates under the 1st Theater Sustainment Command.
“We grieve with the families of the lost and hope they know that Kentucky cares for and supports them,” Beshear said in a Facebook post.
The soldiers were identified as Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.
“We honor our fallen Heroes, who served fearlessly and selflessly in defense of our nation. Their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of their families, will never be forgotten,” Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Command, said in a news release. “On behalf of the Army Reserve, we express our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones.”
The official Facebook account for the U.S. Army Fort Knox said they are supporting the 103rd Sustainment Command while clarifying that the soldiers killed were not assigned to Fort Knox.
“It is with deep sadness and unyielding grief that we acknowledge and recognize our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Our Soldiers relentlessly, consistently, and fearlessly served with sincere dedication and pride,” Brig. Gen. Clint Barnes, 1st Theater Sustainment Command deputy commanding general, said in a Facebook post.
The other two soldiers killed in the attack have not been identified. U.S. Central Command said the identities won’t be released until 24 hours after the soldiers’ families are notified.
The 1st Theater Sustainment Command is made up of nearly 10,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel, according to the command’s website. The command provides supplies and manages ports, flights and customs points in more than 11 countries around the world.
The command was assigned to Fort Knox in 2017 after spending 45 years at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
Rep. Andy Barr, a candidate to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell in this year’s Republican primary, asked for people to pray for the soldiers’ families.
“Today, we mourn six soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Operation Epic Fury,” Barr said in an updated statement on Facebook. “We pray for their families and for all those still in the fight. May God watch over our troops and bring them home safely.”
Sen. Rand Paul also said he was praying for the victims and injured service members.
“These losses hit especially close to home as we learn of connections to our state,” Paul said in a post on X. “May God bring strength and comfort to the families of the lost in this time of deep sorrow.”
Rep. Morgan McGarvey said the news of the deaths is devastating.
“My heart is with each of our neighbors mourning the loss of their loved one after the military operations in the Middle East this weekend,” McGarvey said in a post on X.
Hardin County Government issued a statement on its Facebook page “to express the grief felt with the loss of six Service Members with the 1st Theater Sustainment Command of the U.S. Army.”
“The lives lost in Kuwait in service to our great nation will be mourned by family, friends, fellow soldiers, and their communities,” the post stated.
The conflict between the U.S. and Iran began anew early Saturday when the U.S. and allies fired missiles at Iran in an operation called Epic Fury. The White House said the objectives of the mission were to destroy Iran’s missiles and navy, prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and stop Iran from supporting allied armed groups.
U.S Central Command said the attacks targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
Iran’s death toll stood at 787 as of Tuesday morning, according to CBS News. Included in the deaths were Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by an Israeli missile strike in his compound in Tehran.
“The president ordered bold action, and our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are answering the call,” Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said in a news release.
Iran responded by firing missiles of their own, including the strike at Shuaiba port. CNN reported that one projectile from a suspected drone strike made it through air defenses and hit the center of the building.
The six deaths are the only U.S. fatalities reported so far from the war. President Donald Trump said he expects more fatalities from the fighting, according to CBS News.
Three U.S. fighter jets were inadvertently shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses Sunday night, but all six crew members ejected safely from the aircraft and were later recovered, according to U.S Central Command.
“Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” U.S. Central Command said in a news release.
What is Fort Knox?
Fort Knox is a certified Kentucky city that has a daytime population of more than 26,260 soldiers, family members and civilian employees, according to Military Installations. Fort Knox is in Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties, about 35 miles south from Louisville.
There are more than 30 commands and organizations that employ service members from across the U.S. associated with Fort Knox. The fort also includes the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, which holds about half of the Treasury’s gold along with other valuables of other federal agencies, according to the U.S. Mint.
Trump previously said he planned to make a trip to Fort Knox to inspect the depository’s gold amid internet theories it was missing, but there is no indication the trip ever happened. The depository operates on a strict no-visitors policy and has been opened only twice to non-authorized personnel, according to the Mint.
Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward contributed to this report. This is a developing story and will be updated.
This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 10:56 AM.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to clarify that the four soldiers identified so far were part of a unit that’s based in Fort Knox but were most recently operating out of Des Moines, Iowa.
