Home / War and Conflict / Iowa Soldier Dies in Iran Drone Attack
Iowa Soldier Dies in Iran Drone Attack
6 Mar
Summary
- A 20-year-old Iowa soldier was killed in a drone attack.
- He was sending updates home to ease family fears before death.
- The soldier was a Drake University student and Army reservist.
Sgt. Declan Coady, a 20-year-old U.S. Army Reserve soldier from West Des Moines, Iowa, died in a drone attack in Kuwait on Saturday. He was supporting Operation Epic Fury at the Port of Shuaiba when the Iranian drone strike occurred.
Coady, the youngest of the six fallen soldiers identified by the Department of War, was an information technology specialist who enlisted in 2023. He was a student at Drake University, studying information systems, cybersecurity, and computer science.
His father, Andrew Coady, recounted that Declan had been sending frequent updates home to ease his family's fears. The family received notification of the casualties shortly after waking up Sunday morning.
Coady's unit had deployed to Kuwait in September and was scheduled to return in May. He was considering extending his deployment by nine months. He had previously expressed a deep love for his military service, finding it more fulfilling than civilian jobs.
Declan Coady was posthumously promoted to sergeant, a promotion he was recommended for just a week before the attack. His sister, Keira Coady, tearfully remembered his kindness and close bond with their family pet.
