The Pentagon has identified the seventh US service member killed in the ongoing war with Iran as Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, from Glendale, Kentucky. He died on Sunday from injuries sustained during an Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia on 1 March, the department said in a statement on Monday. The incident is under investigation.
Sergeant Pennington was assigned to the first space battalion, first space brigade, Fort Carson, Colorado, which is part of the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command. He enlisted in 2017 as a unit supply specialist and joined his current unit on 10 June 2025. He will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.
Lt Gen Sean A. Gainey, commanding general of USASMDC, said: 'The US Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt Pennington. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved. That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way.' Colonel Michael F. Dyer, first space brigade commander, described him as a 'dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer'.
Vice-President JD Vance addressed the deaths on Monday, asking for prayers for the six previously killed and the seventh service member. The six others were identified last week as Captain Cody A. Khork, 35; Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor, 39; Sergeant Declan J. Coady, 20; Sergeant First Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42; Major Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45; and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54. They were killed on 1 March in an unmanned aircraft system attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.
