U.S. service members killed during Operation Epic Fury
The peace agreement between the United States and Iran that was announced Sunday is expected to close the chapter on a conflict that claimed the lives of 13 American service members who died serving their nation.
Six of them died in a drone attack soon after the war started, while another soldier died on the same day in what the military described as "an enemy attack." The final six all died less than two weeks later when their refueling plane crashed.
The timeline below details what is known about those instances, followed by biographical information about each service member based on what was made available.
Timeline:
The first six casualties happened on March 1, just a day after the conflict began, and involved six Army Reservists who were all assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, in Des Moines, Iowa. According to the U.S. military, they died after a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.
The soldiers were identified as Capt. Cody A. Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, Sgt. Declan J. Coady, Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan. All six were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa.
On the same day, Sgt. Benjamin Pennington was injured in "an enemy attack" at Prince Sultan Air Base, in Saudi Arabia, according to the Department of Defense. He died from those wounds a week later.
On March 12, six airmen died when their KC-135 aircraft crashed on March 12 in western Iraq, during an incident involving two aircraft in "friendly airspace," the Defense Department explained. The other aircraft landed safely.
The airmen were identified as Maj. John A. Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.
The fallen soldiers and airmen
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. (U.S. Army Reserve Command Press Desk)
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor
Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, enlisted in the National Guard as a 92A (Automated Logistics Specialist) in 2005.
She transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006 and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019.
Amor’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device.
Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio (Department of Defense)
Capt. Curtis J. Angst
Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio, was a KC-135 Pilot assigned to the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. In this role, he was responsible for executing the Air Force’s primary mission of global reach by flying worldwide air refueling, aeromedical, cargo, and passenger operations.
Captain Angst was a combat-proven aviator, deployed in 2015 and 2026 in support of Operations SPARTAN SHIELD and EPIC FURY. Over his tenure he amassed 880 total flight hours, including 67 hours flown in combat missions.
Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa. (U.S. Army Reserve Command Press Desk)
Sgt. Declan Coady
Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, was posthumously promoted from specialist and enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2023 as a 25B (Army Information Technology Specialist).
Coady’s awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon, according to the U.S. Army Reserve.
Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida. ( U.S. Army Reserve Command Press Desk)
Capt. Cody Khork
Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida, enlisted as a 13P (Multiple Launch Rocket System / Fire Direction Specialist) in the National Guard in 2009 and later commissioned as a Military Police Officer in the Army Reserve in 2014.
He deployed to Saudi Arabia in 2018, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2021, and Poland in 2024.
Khork’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10 Year Device and "M" Device, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala. (Department of Defense)
Maj. John A. Klinner
Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala., graduated from Auburn University in 2016 after earning a degree in mechanical engineering. In a statement mourning his death, Auburn wrote that "His commitment to serving our nation reflects the courage, character and sense of duty demonstrated by those who choose a life of service."
Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind. (Department of Defense)
Capt. Seth R. Koval
Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind., was a KC-135 Instructor Pilot assigned to the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. In this role, he was responsible for training and developing pilots for worldwide air refueling, aeromedical, cargo, and passenger missions in direct support of Air Mobility Command's global reach capabilities.
Captain Koval was a seasoned combat pilot who deployed in 2014, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2026. He supported United States Air Forces in Europe, United States Central Command, and United States Pacific Command during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, SPARTAN SHIELD, and EPIC FURY, as well as a Theater Security Package. He logged over 2,076 total flight hours, including 443 combat hours.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, Cal.(Army Reserve Command Press Desk)
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan
Robert Marzan, 54, of Spotsylvania, Va., enlisted in the active Army in 1990 in Sacramento, Calif., then transferred to the Army Reserve in 1994, becoming a Data Operations Warrant Officer in 2011. He deployed to Croatia and Bosnia in 1996 and Egypt and Kuwait from 2019-2020.
Marzan’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 Awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 Awards), NATO Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (4 Awards), Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (7 Awards), and the Multinational Force and Observers Medal.
Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa. (Army Reserve Command Press Desk)
Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien
O'brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa, was commissioned into the Army Reserve as a Signal Corps Officer in 2012.
He deployed to Kuwait in 2019.
O’Brien’s awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device.
U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, Fort Carson, Colo, died March 8, 2026, from injuries sustained during an enemy attack on March 1, 2026, at Prince Sultan Air Bas …
Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington
Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, enlisted in the U.S. Army as a 92Y, unit supply specialist, in 2017. He was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, USASMDC, on June 10, 2025.
Pennington’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (3), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Korea Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34,of Bardstown, Ky. (Department of Defense)
Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt
Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, joined the U.S. Air Force in 2017, logged nearly 900 flight hours, and was deployed four times.
She most recently served with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron from Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama. She was an assistant flight chief of operations and was an instructor in operating the refueling boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker.
Captain Ariana G. Savino was the Chief of Current Operations Pilot at the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Birmingham, Alabama. (MacDill Air Force Base)
Capt. Ariana Savino
Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington, was the Chief of Current Operations Pilot at the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Birmingham, Alabama.
Captain Savino deployed in 2020 and 2026 in support of United States Central Command Operations SPARTAN SHIELD, SENTINEL SENTRY, and EPIC FURY, flying 348 combat hours in both the E8-C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System as a Combat Systems Operator and the KC-135 Stratotanker as a Pilot.
Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, Columbus, Ohio (Department of Defense)
Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons
Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, was a KC-135 Boom Operator with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. He conducted worldwide air refueling missions, transferring fuel to receiver aircraft, along with aeromedical, cargo, and passenger operations in support of the Air Force’s global reach mission.
Sergeant Simmons deployed three times in support of United States Central Command, including Operations FREEDOM SENTINEL, SPARTAN SHIELD, INHERENT RESOLVE, DELIBERATE RESOLVE and EPIC FURY respectively. Lastly, Sergeant Simmons logged 230 combat hours through these deployments.
Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska. (U.S. Army Reserve Command Press Desk)
Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens
Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2006 as a 91B (Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic).
He had two deployments to Kuwait in 2009 and 2019.
Tietjens’ awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal With "M" Device.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from the Department of Defense, the University of Alabama, and the Kentucky legislature. This story was reported from Orlando.