THIS IS WLWT NEWS FIVE LEADING THE WAY WITH BREAKING NEWS. THAT BREAKING NEWS INVOLVING THE IRAN WAR. WE ARE JUST LEARNING THAT A SEVENTH U.S. SOLDIER KILLED IS FROM KENTUCKY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AT NOON. I’M MEGAN MITCHELL. AND I’M KELLY RIPPIN THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR IDENTIFYING HIM AS 26 YEAR-OLD SERGEANT BENJAMIN PENNINGTON. HE IS FROM GLENDALE, KENTUCKY. THAT’S ABOUT AN HOUR SOUTH OF LOUISVILLE. HE WAS INJURED IN AN ENEMY ATTACK AT A U.S. AIR BASE IN SAUDI ARABIA, A DAY AFTER THE U.S. AND ISRAEL LAUNCHED ITS MILITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRAN. BENJAMIN DIED FROM HIS INJURIES YESTERDAY. NOW, KENTUCKY GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR, SHARING A MESSAGE ON X THIS MORNING SAYING IN PART, SERGEANT PENNINGTON IS A HERO WHO SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR OUR COUNTRY. PLEASE JOIN BRITTANY AND ME AS WE PRAY FOR HIS FAMILY AND OUR FELLOW KENTUCKIANS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. NOW, SIX OTHER U.S. SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN AN ATTACK AT PORT SCHWAB IN KUWAIT ON MARCH 1ST. AT LEAST 18 OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS WERE WO
Seventh U.S. service member killed in Iran war identified as Kentucky man
Updated: 12:09 PM EDT Mar 9, 2026
The Department of War has identified a seventh soldier killed in combat while supporting Operation Epic Fury as a Kentucky man.The DOW identified the soldier as Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky. Glendale is a small town located south of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, about 2 and a half hours from Cincinnati. Pennington enlisted in the U.S. Army as a 92Y, unit supply specialist in 2017. The DOW says Pennington died Sunday from injuries sustained during an attack on March 1 at the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.Officials say he was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.Sgt. Pennington was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade in Fort Carson, Colorado.The incident is under investigation.”The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Pennington,” Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, USASMDC commanding general, said. “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. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”Pennington is the 7th soldier to die in combat while supporting Operation Epic Fury.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear released a statement saying: “Kentucky, I am sad to share we just received news that Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington from Glendale has died due to injuries from an Iranian attack. Sgt. Pennington is a hero who sacrificed everything serving our country. Please join Britainy and me as we pray for his family and our fellow Kentuckians during this difficult time.”Pennington was a decorated soldier, recognized with three Army Commendation Medals , an Army Achievement Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an Overseas Service Ribbon, a Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Korea Defense Service Medal and an Army Service Ribbon.According to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Pennington was promotable and will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.Six others killed in action have been identified as: Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. The six members of the Army Reserve were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait.A National Guardsman died in a non-combat related incident in Camp Buehring, Kuwait while supporting Operation Spartan Shield. The DOW identified the soldier as Maj. Sorffly Davius, 46, of Cambria Heights, Queens, New York. The soldier was assigned to the Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, 42nd Infantry Division in Troy, New York.This is a breaking news update, WLWT will continue to update with more information as it comes in.
GLENDALE, Ky. —
The Department of War has identified a seventh soldier killed in combat while supporting Operation Epic Fury as a Kentucky man.
The DOW identified the soldier as Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky. Glendale is a small town located south of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, about 2 and a half hours from Cincinnati. Pennington enlisted in the U.S. Army as a 92Y, unit supply specialist in 2017.
The DOW says Pennington died Sunday from injuries sustained during an attack on March 1 at the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
Officials say he was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.
Sgt. Pennington was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade in Fort Carson, Colorado.
The incident is under investigation.
“The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Pennington,” Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, USASMDC commanding general, said. “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. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”
Pennington is the 7th soldier to die in combat while supporting Operation Epic Fury.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear released a statement saying: “Kentucky, I am sad to share we just received news that Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington from Glendale has died due to injuries from an Iranian attack. Sgt. Pennington is a hero who sacrificed everything serving our country. Please join Britainy and me as we pray for his family and our fellow Kentuckians during this difficult time.”
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Pennington was a decorated soldier, recognized with three Army Commendation Medals , an Army Achievement Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an Overseas Service Ribbon, a Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Korea Defense Service Medal and an Army Service Ribbon.
According to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Pennington was promotable and will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.
Six others killed in action have been identified as: Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. The six members of the Army Reserve were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait.
A National Guardsman died in a non-combat related incident in Camp Buehring, Kuwait while supporting Operation Spartan Shield. The DOW identified the soldier as Maj. Sorffly Davius, 46, of Cambria Heights, Queens, New York. The soldier was assigned to the Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, 42nd Infantry Division in Troy, New York.
This is a breaking news update, WLWT will continue to update with more information as it comes in.