The Pentagon has identified the seventh US service member killed in the war with Iran as 26-year-old army Sgt Benjamin N Pennington, who is a resident of Glendale, Kentucky.
In a statement on Monday the department said Pennington died on Sunday from injuries sustained during an Iranian strike on the Prince Sultan airbase in Saudi Arabia on 1 March. The incident is under investigation, the statement said.
Pennington was assigned to first space battalion, first space brigade, Fort Carson, Colorado, the Pentagon said. The brigade is part of the army space and missile defense command.
US Central Command announced the death on Sunday, but did not identify the service member. In its statement, US Central Command said that the service member had been “seriously wounded” when the Saudi military base was struck on 1 March and had “passed away from injuries”.
“The US 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.”
Col Michael F Dyer, first space brigade commander, described Pennington as a “dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism and sense of duty”.
“Our deepest sympathies are with his family, friends and fellow Soldiers” Dyer said. “We remain dedicated to providing comfort and support at this time and will forever honor his legacy and ultimate sacrifice for our nation.”
The US army space and missile defense command said that Pennington enlisted in the US army as a unit supply specialist in 2017. He was assigned to the first space battalion, first space brigade, USASMDC, on 10 June 2025.
His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, among others. He was promotable, and will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, the statement added.
On Monday, speaking to the International Association of Fire Fighters in Washington DC, JD Vance addressed the deaths of the US service members.
“I just want to say that if you are the praying type, and I certainly am, I hope you’ll spare a prayer for the six souls that we lost, for the seventh soul who will be coming home tonight, and for all of their families,” the vice-president said.
This is the seventh US service member killed in action since last Saturday, when the US and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran and began carrying out large-scale strikes across Iran. Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes, and has launched missiles aimed at Israel and US military facilities in the region, including in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
The six other US service members who have been killed during the war were identified last week as: Capt Cody A Khork, 35; Sgt first class Nicole M Amor, 39; Sgt Declan J Coady, 20; Sgt first class Noah L Tietjens, 42; Maj Jeffrey R O’Brien, 45; and Chief warrant officer 3 Robert M Marzan, 54.
They had all been assigned to the 103rd sustainment command in Des Moines, Iowa, and were killed on 1 March during an “unmanned aircraft system attack” in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, according to the military. The incident remains under investigation.
