From Boy Scout to soldier: Iowa remembers reservist killed in Iran strike

Kevin Baskins and Kyle Werner, Des Moines RegisterWed, March 4, 2026 at 3:43 AM UTC

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An Iowa soldier killed in an Iranian strike is being remembered in his home state as "a young Iowan who heroically answered his nation’s call to duty and gave the ultimate sacrifice."

A statement by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also asked that Iowans join in prayer for the family of Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, a sophomore at Drake University and Army reservist from West Des Moines.

Coady was killed in action in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1, in an Iranian strike at Shuaiba Port in Kuwait. The attack also killed three other soldiers assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, a Des Moines-based unit.

Shuaiba on the Persian Gulf is near Camp Buehring, a U.S. base where Coady's father Andrew and sister Keira told the Des Moines Register he had been stationed.

U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, poses in an undated photograph in his uniform. Coady was killed March 1, 2026, at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, during a drone attack.

The Pentagon on Tuesday, March 3, identified the others killed in the strike as Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It also confirmed Coady, posthumously promoted to sergeant from specialist, was among them.

The attack came after the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on Saturday against Iran, with strikes that killed senior Iranian leaders including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

More: Iowa political leaders mourn 'bravery and sacrifice' of Declan Coady

Coady's family said they were notified of his death around 8 p.m. Sunday.

Drake University, in a statement, said "we are heartbroken to learn that Declan Coady — a well-loved and highly dedicated Drake University student studying information systems, cybersecurity, and computer science — was confirmed to be among the six U.S. service members killed in Kuwait on Sunday. He has bravely served in the U.S. Army Reserves since 2023 as an Information Technologies Specialist and had an incredibly bright future ahead of him.

"In moments like these, we must all come together to show much-needed love and compassion for the Coady family through this incredibly difficult time," the statement said.

More: Iowa political leaders mourn 'bravery and sacrifice' of Declan Coady

Coady’s awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon, according to an Army statement.

In a combination images, from left, Sgt. Declan Coady, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Capt. Cody Khork and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who were supporting Operation Epic Fury who were killed on March 1, 2026, in Kuwait at the Port of Shuaiba, during an unmanned aircraft system attack.Dad last spoke to son on Saturday

Andrew Coady said he had last spoken to his son on Saturday, and "he was telling us that he was safe." Declan Coady had given his family hourly updates, last speaking to his brother, Aidan, 25, an Army corporal stationed in Italy.

Their father said Coady told his brother he was OK, "But we had a feeling based off the limited timeframe, we feel shortly after he got off the phone with his brother, that this incident happened."

Coady's 22-year-old sister, Keira, who graduated from Drake in 2025, said, "He was my younger brother... I'm just really sad that I didn't get a chance to tell him I love him one more time."

Coady had joined the Army Reserves while at Drake. He could have been exempt from deployment because he was in ROTC, but still deployed to Kuwait, leaving in August 2025.

His father said he was looking into active duty after his deployment. "That's how much he loved it," he said.

Coady would have turned 21 on May 5.

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Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died in an Iranian attack in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1.

A GoFundMe posting seeking support for his family said, "Declan was more than a soldier — he was a son, a family member, a friend, and a light in the lives of those who knew him. He served his country with honor, courage, and dedication, embodying the very best of what it means to wear the uniform."

It said the funds raised will assist with costs including funeral and memorial expenses and travel.

"Let us come together to honor Declan’s life, his service, and his sacrifice — and to surround his family with love and support," the posting said.

As of Tuesday, six American troops had been killed in the conflict.

The deadly retaliatory strike came just a little over a month after Reynolds made a five-day visit to key installations in the Middle East where Iowa troops were deployed, including Camp Buehring. The visit spanned Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait, where nearly 1,800 Iowa National Guard members were deployed at the time.

'Quite shy and a man of few words'

Coady graduated from Valley High School in West Des Moines in 2023.

"He was just the nicest. He was quite shy and a man of few words, but he was amazing," his sister said.

"He was still outgoing in many ways. He was not afraid of doing anything," his father added. "He would always step up and help people. Declan was very good at what he did in the Army."

Coady went through the ranks of the Boy Scouts, earning the top rank of Eagle. His two brothers did the same.

Declan loved gaming, going to the gym and the family cat, Autumn, and enjoyed camping and hiking with his family.

"We were all really close, growing up," his sister said.

Coady's death follows those late last year of Iowa National Guard Staff Sgts. William Nathaniel “Nate” Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines. A suspected ISIS gunman ambushed them near Palmyra, Syria, also killing civilian interpreter from Michigan. Three other Iowa National Guard soldiers were wounded.

The bodies of Howard and Torres-Tovar were brought back to Iowa on Christmas Eve and laid to rest at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery on Dec. 29. They were the first Iowa Army National Guard members to die in combat since Sgt. Terryl L. Pasker was killed in the Afghanistan War in July 2011.

Iowa had nearly 1,800 soldiers deployed throughout the region as part of Operation Inherent Resolve before a first wave of about 250 Guard soldiers returned home in February. The Guard announced last weekend another 575 are in the process of returning.

Register Capitol Bureau Chief Stephen Gruber-Miller and staff writers Tyler Jett, Virginia Barreda and Samantha Hernandez contributed to this article.

Kevin Baskins covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at kbaskins@registermedia.com.

Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: From Boy Scout to soldier: Iowa remembers reservist killed in Iran strike

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