The early days of the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, have already claimed American lives, with the first casualties announced in a devastating Iranian drone strike on March 1, 2026. Among the six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed at a command center in Kuwait’s Port of Shuaiba was 20-year-old Sgt. Declan J. Coady of West Des Moines, Iowa. Posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant, Coady was remembered by his family as a kind, dedicated young man whose final conversation with his father, Andrew Coady, carried an unintended weight of farewell.

Andrew Coady shared details of that last exchange in interviews following the Pentagon’s confirmation of his son’s death. Declan had been diligently checking in with his family every hour or two since the operation began late on February 28, sending reassuring messages that he was safe amid the escalating retaliatory strikes from Iran. On Saturday, March 1—hours before the drone attack—Declan called his father to update him. The conversation was typical of their close bond: Declan reported that he was okay, discussed routine matters from his deployment, and expressed optimism about his future in the military. He had recently told his father about being recommended for promotion, a milestone he hoped to achieve in April. Instead, the Army honored him with the sergeant rank after his passing.

Andrew recalled the call as warm and reassuring, with Declan sounding steady despite the tension in the region. “He was still outgoing in many ways,” Andrew said of his son. “He would always step up and help people. Declan was very good at what he did in the Army.” The young soldier, an information technology specialist with the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, focused on troubleshooting computer systems and supporting logistics—ensuring troops received food, fuel, water, ammunition, and equipment essential to operations. Even in a support role far from frontline combat, the risks proved real when an Iranian drone evaded defenses and struck the makeshift facility where Declan and his unit were stationed.

When messages from Declan stopped abruptly that Sunday morning, the family began to worry. “Most of us started to wonder,” Andrew told reporters. “Your gut starts to get a feeling.” They tried to stay positive, assuming he might be in a situation preventing communication, but the silence persisted. By 8 p.m. that evening, as the family prepared for bed, the doorbell rang—a sound that instantly filled them with dread. The notification officers delivered the unimaginable news: Declan had been killed in the strike, along with five fellow reservists.

Declan’s sister, Keira Coady, expressed the family’s lingering pain in a statement, wishing she had reached out one more time. “As his older sister, I can’t quite comprehend it even now, but the only thing I can think is that I wish I had called him one more time and told him I loved him,” she said. She described trying to call him after hearing the news, hoping against hope to hear his voice confirming he was safe. The family remains in shock, with Keira noting, “I still don’t fully think it’s real. I just remember all of our conversations about what he was going to do when he came back.” Those plans included a belated celebration for his 21st birthday, just two months away, and pursuing his dream of becoming an officer.

Declan enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2023 and completed basic training at Fort Sill in 2024, where he stood out as one of the youngest in his class yet impressed instructors with his dedication. He was pursuing a cybersecurity degree online at Drake University in Des Moines while deployed, balancing academics with service. His family highlighted his kindness—he was the type to do anything for anyone—and his love for simple joys like hiking, camping, and spending time with the family cat, Autumn. An Eagle Scout in his youth, Declan embodied a sense of duty and community that drew him to military life.

The 103rd Sustainment Command, where Declan served, plays a crucial behind-the-scenes role in sustaining forces across the theater. The unit’s members, including Declan, Capt. Cody A. Khork of Florida, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor of Minnesota, and Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens of Nebraska (with two others unnamed at the time), were logistics experts keeping operations viable amid the conflict’s opening phase. The strike at Shuaiba port, a key logistics hub, highlighted the vulnerabilities even in support areas as Iran retaliated against U.S. and allied assets following initial strikes that targeted Iranian leadership and infrastructure.

In West Des Moines and the broader Iowa community, tributes have poured in. Moments of silence were held at Drake University, where Declan was a student, and support networks have formed to aid the family. A GoFundMe campaign quickly raised significant funds for expenses related to his loss, reflecting the outpouring of sympathy. Iowa leaders, including the governor, have honored the fallen soldiers, emphasizing their sacrifice for national security.

This tragedy underscores the human cost of the rapidly unfolding war. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have acknowledged that more casualties are expected as operations continue to neutralize threats from Iran. For the Coady family, the geopolitical stakes pale against personal loss: a promising young life cut short, a promotion earned too late, and a final conversation that now stands as the last link to a beloved son and brother.

Declan’s story resonates beyond his hometown, reminding the nation of the individuals behind the headlines—young service members with dreams, families, and everyday calls home that end far too soon. As the conflict progresses, his memory endures in the love he shared and the service he gave, leaving his family to cherish those final words while mourning what might have been.