A wave of grief is spreading across Iowa and beyond following the death of 20-year-old Sgt. Declan J. Coady, a U.S. Army Reserve soldier killed in the escalating war with Iran.

Sgt. Coady died in the line of duty on March 1, 2026, after an Iranian drone strike hit a U.S. facility at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. He was one of six American service members killed during the military operation that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. According to U.S. Army Reserve Command, four of the six deaths occurred when a drone struck the port. Eighteen other U.S. service members were seriously injured.

Born in West Des Moines, Iowa, Coady enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2023. He served as an Information Technologies Specialist with the 103rd Sustainment Command, a Des Moines-based unit responsible for providing food, fuel, water, ammunition, transportation equipment, and other critical supplies to support operations.

He was also a sophomore at Drake University, where he was pursuing an undergraduate degree in information technology, with studies in information systems, cybersecurity, and computer science. The university said it was “heartbroken” over his death, describing him as a well-loved and dedicated student with a bright future ahead.

In an interview with the Associated Press, his father, Andrew Coady, shared that just days before the attack, his son told him he had been recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant. That promotion was later awarded to him posthumously.

Through tears, his sister, Keira Coady, spoke about the pain of losing him so suddenly. “It’s just really hard,” she said. “I just really wish I got to tell him I love him one more time because he was just so amazing and kind.”

Coady’s life of service began long before he joined the military. He was an Eagle Scout with Troop 242, and for his Eagle Scout project, he chose to support the Iowa Homeless Youth Centers, showing a deep commitment to helping others in his community.

A confirmed GoFundMe page was created by his aunt, Marianne Crandall, to support the Coady family during this difficult time. In a public statement, she wrote, “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.”

The other Army reservists killed in the Port Shuaiba strike were identified 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. All four were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command. The identities of the remaining two U.S. service members killed in the broader operation have not yet been released.

Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, chief of Army Reserve and commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command, said in a statement, “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.”

As the conflict continues overseas, communities at home are left mourning the loss of young lives like Sgt. Coady’s — a son, a brother, a student, and a soldier whose family says he gave all he could.

Please keep the Coady family in your thoughts during this heartbreaking time.