American Soldier's Final Words Revealed After Death in US-Israel-Iran Conflict
Declan Coady, a 20-year-old US Army Reserve Sergeant from West Des Moines, Iowa, was killed in a drone strike at Shuaiba Port in Kuwait on Sunday, March 1, 2026. The attack occurred amid escalating hostilities following joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran, with American officials confirming six US service members have been killed in the conflict so far.
Last Conversation with Family
Coady's father, Andrew, revealed he last spoke to his son on Saturday, February 29, the day before the fatal attack. "He was telling us that he was safe," Andrew said, explaining that the young soldier had been providing frequent updates as regional tensions intensified.
The family believes the strike may have occurred shortly after Coady's final call with his older brother, Aidan, 25, an Army corporal based in Italy. "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," Andrew stated.
Heartbreaking Tributes from Loved Ones
Coady's sister, Keira, 22, expressed profound grief over losing her younger brother. "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," she said emotionally.
His father described him as "still outgoing in many ways" and "not afraid of doing anything." He added, "He would always step up and help people. Declan was very good at what he did in the Army."
Military Service and Academic Pursuits
Coady had been serving with the 103rd Sustainment Command, a Des Moines-based unit, since enlisting in the Army Reserve in 2023 while studying at Drake University. He was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant following his death.
Despite having possible exemption from deployment due to his participation in ROTC, Coady chose to deploy to Kuwait in August 2025. His father revealed he had been considering transitioning to active duty after completing his deployment. "That's how much he loved it," Andrew said.
Official Recognition and University Response
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds paid tribute to the fallen reservist, describing him as "a young Iowan who heroically answered his nation's call to duty and gave the ultimate sacrifice." She called on state residents to keep his family in their prayers.
Drake University, where Coady was a second-year student studying information systems, cybersecurity and computer science, expressed being "heartbroken" by the news. The university noted he had "an incredibly bright future ahead of him" as an Information Technologies Specialist.
Personal Life and Background
A 2023 graduate of Valley High School, Coady was remembered by his family as kind, modest, and quietly determined. His sister described him as "just the nicest" and "quite shy and a man of few words, but he was amazing."
Outside his military service and academic pursuits, he enjoyed gaming, going to the gym, camping, and hiking with his family. He had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, following in the footsteps of his two brothers.
An online fundraiser set up to support the family described him as "more than a soldier, he was a son, a family member, a friend, and a light in the lives of those who knew him." Coady would have celebrated his 21st birthday on May 5.
Other Casualties in the Attack
The Pentagon identified three other soldiers who died in the same attack:
- Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Florida
- Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Nebraska
- Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of Minnesota
The Defense Department confirmed the US Army Reserve soldiers were among six service members who died when an Iranian strike hit a tactical operations center in Kuwait.
