The Pentagon has identified the seventh U.S. service member killed in the war with Iran as Army Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky.
In a statement Monday, the department said Pennington died Sunday from injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 1. The incident is under investigation, according to the statement.
Pennington was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, at Fort Carson, Colorado, the Pentagon said. The brigade is part of the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command.
U.S. Central Command announced the death Sunday, but did not identify the service member. In its statement, US Central Command said the service member had been “seriously injured” when the Saudi military base was attacked on March 1 and had “sucked away from his injuries.”
“The US Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sergeant Pennington,” said Lt. Gen. Sean A Gainey, USASMDC commanding general. “He made 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 deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
Colonel Michael F Dyer, commander of the 1st Space Brigade, described Pennington as a “dedicated and experienced non-commissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism and a sense of duty.”
“Our deepest condolences are with his family, friends and fellow soldiers,” Dyer said. “We remain dedicated to providing comfort and support at this time and will always honor his legacy and ultimate sacrifice for our nation.”
The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command said Pennington enlisted in the U.S. Army as a unit supply specialist in 2017. He was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, USASMDC, on June 10, 2025.
His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and Army Good Conduct Medal, among others. He was promotionable and will be posthumously promoted to sergeant major, the statement added.
Speaking before the International Association of Firefighters in Washington DC on Monday, JD Vance addressed the deaths of American service members.
“I just want to say that if you’re the praying type, and I certainly am, I hope you’ll pray for the six souls we lost, for the seventh soul coming home tonight, and for all their families,” the vice president said.
This is the seventh American service member killed in combat since last Saturday, when the United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran and began carrying out large-scale attacks throughout Iran. Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes, launching missiles aimed at Israel and US military facilities in the region, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
The other six US service members who died during the war were identified last week as: Capt. Cody A Khork, 35; Sergeant First Class Nicole M Amor, 39 years old; Sergeant Declan J. Coady, 20; Sergeant First Class Noah L Tietjens, 42; Major Jeffrey R O’Brien, 45; and Chief Warrant Officer 3, Robert M Marzan, 54.
All had been assigned to the 103rd Maintenance Command in Des Moines, Iowa, and died March 1 during an “attack on an unmanned aircraft system” in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, according to the Army. The incident remains under investigation.
