Trump to Honor Fallen Soldiers at Dover Air Force Base
President Donald Trump will join grieving families at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday for the dignified transfer of six U.S. Soldiers killed in the war in the Middle East. The dignified transfer is a solemn military tradition honoring service members who have died in action.
A Somber Duty for the Commander in Chief
The dignified transfer is considered one of the most somber duties of any commander in chief. President Trump previously stated that bearing witness to the transfer was “the toughest thing I have to do” as president. He attended similar ceremonies several times during his first term, including for a Navy SEAL killed in Yemen, two Army officers whose helicopter crashed in Afghanistan, and two other Army soldiers too killed in Afghanistan.
The Fallen Soldiers
The six soldiers who will be honored are Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist.
Service and Sacrifice
All six members of the Army Reserve were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, a unit responsible for providing logistical support, including food, fuel, water, ammunition, and transport. They were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait just one day after the U.S. And Israel launched their military campaign against Iran.
Reactions and Remembrance
Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran, expressed the nation’s gratitude, stating, “These soldiers engaged in the most noble mission: protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure. Our nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.”
The Dignified Transfer Ritual
During the dignified transfer, the remains of the fallen service members, draped in the American flag, are carefully carried from the aircraft to a waiting vehicle for transport to the mortuary facility at Dover Air Force Base. There, they will be prepared for their final resting place.
Personal Stories of Loss
The families of the fallen soldiers are grappling with immense grief. Joey Amor, husband of Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, shared that she was scheduled to return home to their two children within days. O’Brien’s aunt remembered him as a “sweetest blue-eyed, blonde farm kid.” Marzan’s sister described him as a “strong leader” and loving family member. Coady’s father highlighted his son’s dedication to his military training and his kindness. Khork’s family remembered him as “the life of the party” with a generous heart. Tietjens, a veteran of a previous deployment to Kuwait, is remembered by his cousin for his devotion to his family, especially his 12-year-classic son.
President Trump most recently traveled to Dover in December 2025 to honor two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. Civilian interpreter killed in Syria.