Trump and Vance Attend Dignified Transfer for Six Fallen Soldiers at Dover
Attendees included Melania Trump, Karen Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, governors, and senators from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Florida. Families observed privately.
DOVER, Del. – President Trump and Vice President JD Vance attended a dignified transfer ceremony Thursday at Dover Air Force Base for six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed in an Iranian drone strike on a Kuwait base, honoring their sacrifice amid the ongoing military action.
The half-hour ritual involved carrying flag-draped transfer cases from a military aircraft to mortuary vehicles. Trump, in a blue suit, red tie, and white USA hat, saluted each case without speaking. Attendees included Melania Trump, Karen Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, governors, and senators from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Florida. Families observed privately.
The soldiers, from the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, Iowa, provided logistics support: Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.
Trump, speaking earlier at a Miami summit, called the fallen "heroes" and pledged to minimize U.S. war deaths. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) described them as heroes deserving national gratitude. Families shared tributes: Joey Amor on his wife's return; Andrew Coady on his son's kindness; and others highlighting leadership and service.
Hegseth posted about honoring their memory with resolve. The event underscores the solemn duties of leadership.
To date, the military action—entering its tenth day—has involved over 2,000 strikes achieving air superiority, degrading nuclear and missile sites, sinking an Iranian warship, and eliminating key regime leaders, prompting Iranian retaliations including tanker attacks, drone strikes on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, and missile barrages on Gulf allies, with six American service members killed. Reinforcements continue, with Trump projecting four to five weeks of targeted operations to secure U.S. and allied interests.