HIS LAST THREE WORDS STUNNED A NATION.  20-year-old Sgt. Declan J. Coady gave everything in the line of duty on March 1, 2026, during a strike in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.  A dedicated member of the 103rd Sustainment Command, Coady was part of the backbone of the U.S. Army. But as he stood amidst the chaos of the Iranian strike, it wasn’t fear that defined his final moments. Just before he fell, he whispered three words that have left all of America in silence.  THE FINAL MESSAGE: What were his last words and the stories of the five fellow heroes lost with him? Read the full tribute in the first comment. 

20-year-old Sgt. Declan J. Coady died in the line of duty after an Iranian strike hit a U.S. facility in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait on March 1, 2026. He served in the Army Reserve since 2023. Sgt. Coady served with the 103rd Sustainment Command, a unit responsible for providing food, fuel, water, ammunition, transportation equipment, and supplies.

Five other U.S. service members also lost their lives in the strike in Kuwait.

Sgt. Coady was born in West Des Moines, Iowa. He was a sophomore pursuing an Information Technology undergraduate degree at Drake University. In a statement with the Associated Press, his father Andrew Coady said his son told him last week he had been recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant, a rank he received posthumously. With tears in her eyes, his sister Keira Coady said, “It’s just really hard… I just really wish I got to tell him I love him one more time because he was just so amazing and kind.”

Sgt. Coady was also an Eagle Scout with Troop 242. And for his Eagle Scout project, he decided to help others by serving the Iowa Homeless Youth Centers. A confirmed GoFundMe page was created by Sgt. Coady’s aunt, Marianne Crandall, to support the Coady family during this difficult time. In a statement, Marianne said, “Declan was more than a soldier. He was a son, a family member, a friend, and a light in the lives of those who knew him. He served his country with honor, courage, and dedication, embodying the very best of what it means to wear the uniform.” Please pray for the Coady family. Sgt. Coady, you did all you could do. Now, it’s time to rest.