Iowa has lost four military residents since December across two theaters of conflict: two National Guard members killed in Syria in December, which the U.S. military attributed to the Islamic State group, and two Army Reservists killed in Saturday’s drone strike in Kuwait. Reynolds, who voiced support for the conflict, said she hoped U.S. forces would be in and out quickly.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday expressed support for the U.S. war with Iran as she mourned the deaths of four Iowa residents in military service since December, including two soldiers killed last weekend in a retaliatory drone strike in Kuwait.

“I believe in the mission right now,” Reynolds, a Republican, said at a news conference, her voice breaking at times. “I think it was the right thing to do,” she said of U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. “Hopefully we’re in and out. I believe that’s the goal of this administration.”

Reynolds said she had spoken with the father of Sgt. Declan Coady and the wife of Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, the two Iowa soldiers killed in Kuwait. “As you can imagine, they’re heartbroken and as Iowans, we grieve with them,” she said. She added that some wounded soldiers from the attack had been safely transported to Germany.

Two Iowans among six killed in Kuwait drone strike

Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, and O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, were two of six Army Reservists killed in Saturday’s drone strike in Kuwait. All were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies.

ProCircular, a cybersecurity company where O’Brien worked, praised his “uplifting humor” and “calm guidance.” “His quiet strength and expertise protected countless systems and left a lasting impact on everyone privileged to work with him,” said Aaron Warner, ProCircular’s chief executive.

The military identified the other four soldiers killed in Kuwait as: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, of Bellevue, Nebraska.

Tributes for the fallen

Marzan had served alongside Lucas Schafroth, of Waukee, Iowa, for Schafroth’s entire 13-year Army Reserve career. Schafroth, 35, works in cybersecurity and left the military in 2021.

“For me, he was my greatest mentor in life. I mean, I’m the father I am today — I’m the man I am today — because of him,” Schafroth said. “He was just an incredible man. And he did that for everyone he met. Every single one of us.”

Schafroth said he and Marzan had planned to start small businesses together after Marzan’s return. Tina Marzan said her husband’s deployment was supposed to end in a couple of months, and the family had been planning to celebrate his April birthday when he returned.

In Bellevue, a martial arts studio where Tietjens practiced held a memorial class Thursday evening in his honor. Grand Master Julius Melegrito led the class through 43 repetitions of several exercises because the day would have been Tietjens’ 43rd birthday. Melegrito said Tietjens was always willing to give and help others, noting that he participated in Zoom classes while deployed and taught fellow soldiers martial arts. Tietjens, his wife, and his 12-year-old son all earned black belts at the suburban Omaha studio, which is part of the Philippine Martial Arts Alliance International.

Two Iowa National Guard members killed in Syria in December

In December, two members of the Iowa National Guard were killed in Syria. The U.S. military blamed the Islamic State group for those deaths. Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, were the soldiers killed.

“I can’t imagine the sacrifice,” Reynolds said Thursday.