U.S. service members killed in the Iran war include a Minnesota mom and an Iowa college student. Here's what we know.
Since the war in Iran started on Feb. 28, six American service members have been killed, including a Minnesota mother of two, an Iowa college student and a Florida native remembered by his family as the "life of the party."
Five of the fallen service members, all members of a U.S. Army Reserve unit based in Des Moines, Iowa, have been positively identified as of Wednesday. The Pentagon also announced Wednesday that Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California, "is believed to be" the sixth soldier who "perished at the scene" in Kuwait, and that positive identification will be done by a medical examiner.
The U.S. Army does not identify deceased service members publicly until 24 hours after the person's next of kin are notified.
"These men and women all bravely volunteered to defend our country, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten," Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said.
Here's what to know about the U.S. service members who have died in the Iran war:
Capt. Cody A. Khork
Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, was born and raised in Winter Haven, Florida, according to a statement from the city. He enrolled in the National Guard in 2009 as a multiple launch rocket system/fire detection specialist. He was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides food, water and other equipment and supplies.
Khork graduated from Florida Southern College in 2014 and was commissioned as a military police officer in the Army reserve that same year, the city said.
Khork was deployed to Saudi Arabia in 2018, Guantanamo Bay in 2021, and Poland in 2024. He earned awards including the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.
"Beyond his distinguished military service, those who knew Cody remember him for the kind of person he was every day. Friends describe him as someone who was always smiling, easygoing, and genuinely kind — someone who looked out for the people around him and left a lasting impression on those he met," the city said in a statement. "Many recall that when you ran into Cody around town, it always felt like no time had passed."
Khork's family remembered him as "very patriotic and the life of the party," according to CBS News Miami.
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, was from Minnesota. Her husband Joey Amor told CBS News Minnesota that she was days away from ending her deployment and returning home to him and their two children.
Amor enlisted in the National Guard in 2005 as an automated logistics specialist, then transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006, CBS Minnesota reported. She previously deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019. Throughout her military career, she earned awards including the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal, and Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, CBS Minnesota said. She was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar paid tribute to Amor on Instagram, calling her an "avid gardener who made salsa from the peppers and tomatoes in her garden with her son, a senior in high school." Klobuchar said that Amor "also enjoyed rollerblading and bicycling with her fourth-grade daughter."
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Amor "answered the call to serve and gave her life in service to our state and nation." He added that "Minnesotans are wrapping our arms around her loved ones."
"She was almost home," Joey Amor told CBS Minnesota. "You don't go to Kuwait thinking something's going to happen, and for her to be one of the first – it hurts."
Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens
Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, was from Bellevue, Nebraska. Congressman Don Bacon said that he was a native of the area. The U.S. Army Reserve said he enlisted as a wheeled vehicle mechanic in 2006 and had two previous deployments in 2009 and 2019, both to Kuwait. He was awarded honors including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. He was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command.
Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike said that Tietjens was married, but did not share any other information about his family.
"Noah dedicated his life to the defense of freedom and answered the call to serve with courage, honor, and selfless commitment," Hike said in a statement.
Nebraska flags were flown at half-staff in his honor, Nebraska Public Media reported. Governor Jim Pillen said he and his wife Suzanne were "deeply saddened" to learn of Tietjens' death and that they were "holding the Tietjens family close to our hearts during this unbelievably difficult time."
"Noah stepped up to serve and defend the American people from foreign enemies around the world — a sacrifice we must never forget," Pillen said on social media.
Sgt. Declan J. Coady
Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, was from West Des Moines, Iowa. He was an Eagle Scout who graduated from high school in 2023 and enlisted in the Army Reserve as an Army information technology specialist that same year, CBS affiliate KCCI reported. He was a sophomore at Drake University, where he studied cybersecurity, and was taking online classes while in Kuwait. He was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command. This was his first deployment.
Coady was promoted to sergeant posthumously. He had told his father the week before his death that he had been recommended for the promotion, KCCI reported. Coady's father, Andrew Coady, told the Associated Press that his son was one of the youngest in his class but that he impressed his instructors.
"He was very good at what he did," Andrew Coady said.
"I still don't fully think it's real," Coady's sister Keira told KCCI. "I just remember all of our conversations about what he was going to do when he came back."
Andrew Coady told KCCI that his son had the option of remaining at Drake and going through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, which would have allowed him to commission later as an officer, "but he was adamant, like, 'I'm going to go with my unit.'"
Coady earned honors including the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon, the U.S. Army Reserve said.
"I just wish he could have known one more time that we all loved him, because he was so amazing and kind," Keira Coady told KCCI.
"We mourn the loss of Sergeant Declan Coady, a young Iowan who heroically answered his nation's call to duty and gave the ultimate sacrifice," Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a news release. "Kevin and I offer our deepest condolences to his family and ask all Iowans to join us in prayer for their healing and comfort."
Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien
O'Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa, commissioned in the Army Reserve as a Signal Corps officer in 2012 and deployed to Kuwait in 2019.
His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve said.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan
Marzan, 54, was from Sacramento, California. His brother, Vic Marzan, told CBS News Sacramento in a statement Wednesday night: "My brother died for our country. He was a lifetime serviceman. Loved his family and country."
Marzan's niece, Irene Mary, wrote in a Facebook post that Marzan had served in the Army for more than 30 years and was set to return home in about two months from what would have been his final deployment.
"You're our Hero with a servant's heart, you lead with love and bravery, you gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country, an honorable soldier, and I believe God welcomed you Home with open arms saying 'Well done, my son, well done,'" Mary wrote.
Mary wrote that Marzan is survived by his wife and two children.