The Pentagon released the last two names of six U.S. service members killed in a drone strike in Kuwait, completing the Defense Department’s identifications of the Americans who died in an attack on a command center at Port Shuaiba. The two additional service members identified on Wednesday were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, and Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa, according to a statement from the Pentagon.
The Defense Department said the six people died Sunday after a drone hit the command center in Port Shuaiba. The strike came one day after the U.S. and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran, as Iran responded with missiles and drones aimed at Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.
In its statement, the Pentagon said Marzan was at the scene when the drone strike hit the command center and that he is “believed to be the individual who perished at the scene.” The Defense Department said a medical examiner would confirm the identification.
O’Brien’s hometown was listed by the Pentagon as Indianola, a suburb of Des Moines. The report said people at a home in Waukee, another suburb of Des Moines, did not comment, saying the family would release a statement.
The four other service members previously identified by the Pentagon were Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa; 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, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska. All six were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies.
The Pentagon said O’Brien and Marzan were among the Army Reserve members who worked in logistics and helped keep troops supplied with food and equipment. President Donald Trump told reporters that more deaths are likely before the conflict ends, saying, “Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is,” the White House said. The White House said Trump will attend the dignified transfers of the soldiers when they arrive in the U.S., describing the ceremony as a ritual that honors service members killed in action.
State leaders also issued condolences. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement that her “hearts are broken” by the deaths of O’Brien and Coady, calling them “two brave Iowa soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice to secure freedom and peace.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom and acting Gov. Eleni Kounalakis also offered condolences to Marzan’s wife and family, saying flags at the state Capitol would remain at half-staff and describing him as “a courageous Californian whose service to our nation was marked by honor and distinction.”
Beyond the official releases, family members described the service members as devoted to their communities and loved ones. O’Brien was described by a report citing a Facebook post and his LinkedIn as having served in the Army Reserve for nearly 15 years and as someone who managed defensive cyber operations at an Iowa cybersecurity company. Marzan’s sister described him on Facebook as a “strong leader” and loving husband, father and brother, while Coady’s father described how the family began to worry after Coady stopped responding to messages from Kuwait. Amor’s husband said she was “almost home” and described changes to her base assignments in the days before the drone strike.