President Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday to mark the final return home of the six U.S. Army troops killed during an Iranian drone strike at a U.S. command center in Kuwait.
He deplaned Air Force One to anticipate the arrival of the flag-draped coffins and greet military service members.
He wrote in a Friday Truth Social post that he would be joined by first lady Melania Trump and members of his Cabinet.
The six are the first U.S. service members killed since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran one week ago, prompting the Mideast country to retaliate, launching missiles and drones at nearby nations.
The dignified transfer, a military procedure to return the remains of U.S. service members killed in the line of duty, will include Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; 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 Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.
All were with the Army’s 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), based in Des Moines, an outfit that oversees transportation for deployed forces and provides them with food, fuel and ammunition.
“Our service members bear a responsibility and a duty most civilians will never come close to understanding. They know that the day might come when they are asked to risk their life in defense of their country,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on social media.
He added that their deaths will not be in vain, but “we will honor them with action.
“We will hunt down the Iranians radicals responsible, dismantle their military capabilities, and ensure that justice is swift and absolute. We stand stronger than ever, ready to avenge these fallen heroes and crush the threats in Iran that dare to challenge us. America does not yield; we advance, we prevail, and this we’ll defend.”
After the first three soldiers died, Mr. Trump said, “Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends.”
He added, “That’s the way it is. Likely be more. But we’ll do everything possible where that won’t be the case.”
During Saturday’s Shield of the Americas summit in Doral, Florida, Mr. Trump said that those killed are “great heroes in our country, and we’re going to keep it that way.”
