The family of Sgt. Declan J. Coady, the 20-year-old Army Reservist from West Des Moines, Iowa, is sharing raw, emotional memories of their youngest son — the youngest of the six U.S. soldiers killed in the March 1, 2026, Iranian drone attack on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait — just weeks before he would have turned 21 on May 5.
In poignant interviews with CNN and the Associated Press, Declan’s older sister Keira Coady fought back tears as she described the unbearable night the family learned of his death. “I still can’t believe it’s real,” she said. “I wish I had called him one more time just to say I love you. That night we got the news was one of the worst nights of my life.”
Keira recounted how Declan had been texting and calling home almost hourly during the escalating tensions, always reassuring them: “I’m good.” He kept the family updated on his plans for when he’d return stateside, sharing excitement about seeing everyone again. Then, suddenly, the messages stopped. “We kept hoping it was just bad signal or he was busy,” Keira said. “But then the knock at the door came… and everything changed forever.”
Declan, a sophomore at Drake University and member of the Des Moines-based 103rd Sustainment Command, was deployed to Kuwait in August 2025. His family remembers him as endlessly passionate — especially when talking about the things he loved. “If you got him talking about something he was passionate about, you were the luckiest person in the room,” Keira shared. “He lit up. That was Declan.”
His father, Andrew Coady, also spoke publicly for the first time, calling his son “an incredible young man” who truly loved serving his country. “Declan was dedicated, smart, kind, and fearless,” Andrew said. “He believed in what he was doing, and he made us proud every single day.”
The attack — which targeted a U.S. logistics hub at the commercial port — bypassed defenses and claimed the lives of six soldiers, including Declan, who was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. He leaves behind grieving parents, siblings, friends from his fencing community, and classmates who remember his bright smile and quiet determination.
As the nation mourns the first wave of casualties in the conflict, the Coady family’s words remind us of the human faces behind the headlines: a young man full of life, love for his family, and dreams cut tragically short.
Our hearts are with the Coady family, Keira, Andrew, and everyone who loved Declan during this devastating time. Rest in peace, Sgt. Declan Coady — your light and your service will never be forgotten.
