C. The First Names of “Epic Fury”: Honoring the Six American Heroes Who Gave Everything
The First Names of “Epic Fury”: Honoring the Six American Heroes Who Gave Everything
Tonight, the quiet is heavy. The flags at half-staff across the country are no longer just symbols of a national pause—they are markers of a profound, personal tragedy. As of March 5, 2026, the Department of Defense has officially identified the six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury.
These are no longer just numbers on a CENTCOM update. They are parents, children, and students. They were the “Cactus Nation” soldiers of the 103rd Sustainment Command out of Des Moines, Iowa, whose lives were stolen on March 1st when an Iranian unmanned aircraft struck a tactical operations center at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.
The Faces of the Fallen
They stood the watch so others could sleep. They carried the weight of a nation’s defense on their shoulders. Today, we speak their names to ensure they are never just a footnote in a conflict.
The Six Guardians of Shuaiba:
| Name | Rank | Age | Hometown |
| Jeffrey R. O’Brien | Major | 45 | Waukee, Iowa |
| Cody A. Khork | Captain | 35 | Winter Haven, Florida |
| Robert M. Marzan | CW3 | 54 | Sacramento, California |
| Noah L. Tietjens | SFC | 42 | Bellevue, Nebraska |
| Nicole M. Amor | SFC | 39 | White Bear Lake, Minnesota |
| Declan J. Coady | Sergeant | 20 | West Des Moines, Iowa |
Lives Interrupted
Behind each name is a story that was still being written.
- Sergeant Declan Coady, only 20 years old, was the “baby” of his family and a dedicated student at Drake University studying cybersecurity. An Eagle Scout who loved gaming, he was shipping computer parts home from Kuwait to build his own PC upon his return. He was posthumously promoted from Specialist.
- Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor was a devoted mother to a fourth-grade daughter. Her husband, Joey, shared that she had been moved to a separate building just a week prior for safety, fearing the very attack that took her life.
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, a 54-year-old veteran from Sacramento, was described by his brother as a “lifetime serviceman” who loved his family and his country above all else.
- Captain Cody Khork was a “deeply patriotic” leader, remembered by friends as the kind of person who always looked out for those around him.
The Power of the Promise
As the “Shuffler” of the digital age, it is easy to get lost in the noise of fashion and film. But today, the only thing that matters is the silence in six American homes.
The recovery of the final two service members—whose remains were found in the rubble of the initial strike—fulfills the sacred military promise: Leave No One Behind. It is a bittersweet comfort for families who now have the dignity of a proper homecoming, even if it is one they never wanted.
“Freedom is not free,” as the saying goes. “It is paid for in sacrifice.”
A Call to Remembrance
We pray for the wounded—the 18 other service members fighting through injuries in hospitals across the region. We pray for the families who must now navigate a world that feels much colder.
May we never simply scroll past their sacrifice. May we remember that they didn’t just die for a mission; they lived for us.
Rest in peace to the brave. The watch is over. We have it from here.
