'I wish I had called him one more time': Sister mourns slain soldier Sgt Declan J Coady's death

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid the US-Israel military strikes in Iran, six American service members have lost their lives. Among them was 20-year-old Sergeant Declan J Coady. His older sister shared her sorrow, saying she wished she had called her baby brother “one more time” and told him she loved him.

When Kiera Coady first heard about the drone strike, her instinct was to call him, hoping he would reassure her. She said, “Maybe I would hear his voice telling us he was safe.” But there was nothing, not even a voicemail, she added. Coady's sister remembered him as “smart and kind and amazing.” Coady, who enlisted in 2023, was only two months away from his 21st birthday.

US soldier killed in Iran war, sister remembers him as ‘smart and kind’ 

Young Coady lost his life this week in a drone strike during the conflict in Iran, according to the Pentagon. His family remembers him as “smart and kind and amazing.” Kiera said, “I wish that I had been able to be there or trade places with him or anything just so he could have known he was safe,” Kiera said, according to ABC News.

She recalled the tense moment before hearing the news. After trying to check in on Sunday, March 1, they heard nothing. At first, they hoped he was just in a situation where he couldn’t respond, but deep down, they knew something was wrong.

The moment the family realized the truth came at 8 pm. “As we were all getting ready for bed, the doorbell rang, and the rest of that night will forever be one of the worst nights of our lives. While it’s all blurry, we all knew what the doorbell meant,” Kiera said.

Coady was part of 'Operation Epic Fury,' the joint US-Israel offensive against Iran, which the US says aims to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and weaken a hostile regime.

Kiera expressed her heartbreak over losing her brother. “I wish that I had been able to be there or trade places with him or anything just so he could have known he was safe and that we loved him and he didn’t need to be scared… He was just a baby.” She added, “He was truly a rock in all of our lives and was just the most amazing brother and son my family could have asked for.”

Six US soldiers killed in Iran conflict

It is with heavy hearts that the Pentagon announced the deaths of four US Army Reserve Soldiers supporting Operation Epic Fury on March 1.

“We honor our fallen heroes, who served fearlessly and selflessly in defense of our nation,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, Chief of Army Reserve.

The soldiers who died are Declan Coady, 20, who was promoted from specialist; Nicole Amor, 39; Noah Tietjens, 42; Cody Khork, 35; Jeffrey R O’Brien, 45; and Robert M Marzan, 54. All were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Four deaths were announced on Tuesday, March 3, while the remaining two, Marzan and O’Brien, were revealed on Wednesday. “These men and women all bravely volunteered to defend our country, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said.