‘Unapologetically American’: Memorial Services Held for 2 Soldiers Killed in Iran War

WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—Emotional scenes unfolded in two American communities on March 21, 800 miles apart, as people gathered to honor military members killed in Operation Epic Fury against Iran.

In Winter Haven, Florida, a massive American flag hoisted up by two firetrucks outside the Haven Worship Center welcomed hundreds of attendees to Army Reserve Maj. Cody Khork’s memorial.

Memorabilia lined the entryway into the 35-year-old’s memorial service, including photos with friends, family, fraternity brothers, military comrades, and others. An image of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida was also displayed—Khork was described as an avid Gator fan.

“It was rare to see Cody sad for long periods of time, but when he was it was probably because we were let down by the Gators,” Khork’s childhood friend Doug said during the service.

Mentors, friends, and family spoke at the memorial, sharing stories about the man they described as inspirational, reliable, charismatic, a leader, a smiling face, and one dedicated to his country.

The first time Doug met Khork was at a bus stop 25 years ago when they started middle school together.

“Little did I know that this skinny kid with thick glasses would change my life, my neighborhood’s life, become family, and ultimately be an American hero,” Doug said. “Most importantly, Cody was unapologetically American.”

Abbas Jaffer, a fraternity brother at Florida Southern College, spoke next. Khork was best man at Jaffer’s wedding.

Jaffer invited other fraternity brothers onto the stage with him as he spoke about Khork’s calling to something greater than himself: serving in the Army and protecting people. If Khork had the chance to wear red, white, and blue, he always seized it, Jaffer said.

“Khork was my best friend, my best man, and my brother,” Jaffer said through tears. “He helped me get through some of the hardest times in my life and shaped me into the person that I am today. I pray that his legacy lives on forever.”

Retired Lt. Col. Scott LaRonde, Master Sgt. Robert Bunch, and Brig. Gen. Jonathan Bennett all hailed the fallen soldier’s natural leadership skills.

LaRonde and Khork both were stationed in Senegal for a period of time together. The retired colonel said Khork emanated motivation and passion for service.

“As we mourn his loss today, please internally recognize your gain for having known him and for having been his friend, his family, for having served with him,” LaRonde said.

Bennett served at Guantanamo Bay with Khork, who quickly became his go-to soldier for any task or operation that needed to be done, he said.

The 35-year-old fallen soldier was the glue—the nucleus—that brought people together, the brigadier general said.

“I promise you that he was where he wanted to be,” Bennett said, referring to Khork’s deployment to Kuwait, where he was ultimately killed. “He was where he wanted to be, leading from the front.”

Khork’s stepmother, Stacey Khork, spoke last on behalf of the family.

Her stepson loved golf, the Gators, paintball, strategy, adrenaline, and competition, she said.

“He believed in doing the right thing, even when it cost him something, and in the end, it cost him everything,” she said.

There is a void in their family that will never be filled, she said, but there is also an immense sense of pride in the fallen soldier’s sacrifice.

Maj. Cody Khork’s Life and Death

Khork’s loved ones described a lifetime of selfless dedication to his nation, friends, and family.

He initially enlisted in the National Guard in 2009 as a multiple launch rocket system and fire direction specialist and soon became a military police officer for the Army Reserve in 2014.

He earned several awards throughout his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal. Posthumously, Khork was recognized with the Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and received a promotion to the rank of major.

He attended Florida Southern College. A scholarship has been set up in his name.

At the time of his death, Khork was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command of the U.S. Army Reserve.

Khork was among the first U.S. soldiers killed in Operation Epic Fury, a joint mission with Israel against the Iranian regime. His memorial service came three weeks to the day since he was killed by an Iranian drone strike on the port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, on March 1.

Five other soldiers were killed in that attack, including Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa.

The remains of the five soldiers and Khork were first flown from the Middle East to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on March 7. President Donald Trump and other state and federal officials attended a dignified transfer of their bodies, paying tribute to their sacrifice.

“We ask you to turn our sorrow into joy, our pain into perseverance, and our grief into gratitude,” Chaplain Dong Jun Kim said during Khork’s service. Kim was also present at the dignified transfer for the six soldiers, serving as chaplain for Khork’s family at that service as well.

Friends, family, and strangers welcomed Khork back to his hometown of Winter Haven on March 18, when he was honored with a procession from Lakeland Linder International Airport to a funeral home nearby.

His remains were escorted by a sea of red, white, and blue: hundreds of law enforcement officers dressed in white uniforms flashing their lights and motorcyclists donning leather and American flag gear.

On March 23, Khork’s remains will be escorted from Winter Haven to Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, where he will be buried with military honors.

The soldier is survived by his mother, father, two brothers, and fiancée.

“How do you sum up a life like yours, Cody?” Khork’s stepmother asked during his service. “You can’t. But you can see it here in the faces of everyone whose lives you’ve touched.

“Your watch has ended, my son, but your legacy never will.”

Kentuckian Was Destined to Be a Soldier

Meanwhile, a rural community south of Louisville, Kentucky, turned out to pay homage to the conflict’s seventh casualty, Army Staff Sgt. Benjamin “Ben” Noah Pennington, 26.

Mourners gathered for Pennington’s funeral at Central Hardin High School, followed by inurnment in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Radcliff, Kentucky.

He was injured on March 1 during an Iranian attack at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon stated. He died a week later from those injuries, his obituary states, noting that “Ben’s dream and life calling from an early age was to be an American soldier.”

“Everyone who knew Ben well knew he was destined to be an Army man, and there was no convincing him otherwise,” the obituary reads.

A Boy Scout who earned the rank of Eagle Scout, Pennington enlisted in the Army at age 18. He was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and served a tour in Korea before his final assignment at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There, he was baptized as a follower of Jesus Christ in January 2026, his obituary reads.

On March 20, a day before his funeral, a hearse carrying the fallen soldier arrived in his home county, Hardin, about 45 miles south of Louisville.

Retired Iraq War veteran Daniel O’Dell, 38, was among hundreds of people who lined the procession route.

Earlier, he had been among members of the local American Legion who helped place 150 large U.S. flags on streets leading to Pennington’s family home in Glendale, an unincorporated area of about 2,000 people.

On the somber occasion of Pennington’s procession, O’Dell told The Epoch Times: “This is a moment that we all come together, and we stand in respect—and make sure that Sgt. Pennington is never forgotten.

“It’s not just about one soldier coming home, OK? It’s about honoring the life, service, and sacrifice, and the commitment to the United States of America.”

O’Dell described Hardin County as a pro-military community feeling the impact of Pennington’s death.

“Yes, it hurts, but we truly understand the mission at hand, and somebody has to do it,” he said. “And we are very grateful. Our community is very grateful to always stand behind those who continue to protect our nation.”

As the procession passed, O’Dell and other military members stood saluting silently, while civilians stood with their right hands over their hearts. O’Dell said he could hear people choking back tears. People respectfully remained still until the hearse traveled out of sight.

Afterward, O’Dell captured an emotional scene on his cellphone camera. He saw community members, many who knew Pennington, clustered together and hugging.

“It reminds me that freedom has a cost,” O’Dell said on March 20, his voice cracking. “And today we pause to recognize that, especially here in Hardin County.”

Pennington’s family requested donations to the SSGT Benjamin Pennington Dream Fund. The fund’s administrator is the Central Kentucky Community Foundation, which invests donations from a nine-county area and uses the returns to fund local groups and projects.

Trowbridge Funeral Home in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, handled his arrangements.

In the neighboring state of Ohio, arrangements had not yet been announced for three airmen who were killed during a refueling mission that ended with a crash in western Iraq: Capts. Seth R. Koval and Curtis  J. Angst, along with Tech. Sgt. Tyler  H. Simmons.