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Army reservist, 20, killed in Iranian drone strike in Kuwait, spent final hours reassuring family: ‘I’m good’
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Fallen U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, spent his final hours in Kuwait sending steady updates home to ease his family’s fears amid the war with Iran and before silence replaced his messages and uniformed officers arrived at his parents’ door.
Coady, a Drake University student from Des Moines, Iowa, was one of six Army Reserve soldiers killed Saturday in an Iranian drone attack at the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait while supporting Operation Epic Fury, according to the Department of War (DOW).
He was the youngest of the fallen soldiers identified by the DOW after enlisting in the Army Reserve in 2023 as an Army information technology specialist.
In an emotional interview, his father, Andrew Coady, said the family learned about the casualties shortly after waking up Sunday morning but did not believe Declan was involved because he had spoken to his brother in Italy earlier in the morning.
Sgt. Declan Coady and five other U.S. Army Reserve soldiers were killed in a drone attack in Kuwait Sunday. (U.S. Army Reserve Command Press Desk)
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“Declan just was checking in with him, and the reason being is Declan is nine hours ahead of us,” Andrew said. “He was two hours ahead of his brother, so he called his brother. Declan had been sending us updates every one to two hours, like, ‘Hey, everything’s still good. I’m good.’ Which goes to show you, you know, he was thinking about us. Like, ‘Don’t worry about me’ and so forth.”
Based on information the family received, Andrew said Declan’s operation center was likely hit shortly after he got off the phone with his brother.
“At the time, my wife had sent another message to him … and we didn’t hear back,” Andrew said. “They may not always be able to respond, but I will say most of us started to [worry]. Your gut starts to get a feeling. We go to bed fairly early, so we got ready Sunday night to go to bed, and we had just turned the lights off and went into the bedroom and the doorbell rang at 8 p.m.”
Andrew Coady and his daughter, Keira, right, talk about his son, Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, outside their home Tuesday, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)
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Declan’s unit deployed to Kuwait in September and was due home in May, according to his father.
“There was a request for the role that he could do and fill, that a new unit was coming in and didn’t have so many in that slot, and if he’d be willing to extend nine more months,” Andrew Coady said. “So, we were discussing that, pros and cons. He hadn’t made a decision yet.”
He reminisced about a conversation with his son, during which Declan told him his previous jobs did not compare to the love he had for service.
“But one thing he did say is that, ‘You know, I haven’t had a lot of jobs, but I’ve had jobs in the civilian world. And I’ve been over here for six months, and I work 12-plus hour days. I work six to seven days a week,’” Andrew said. “And he goes, ‘I love it.’”
This photo provided by Andrew Coady shows his son, Declan Coady, posing for a photo on the day of his graduation at the U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Sill, Okla. (Andrew Coady via AP)
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His father explained Declan could have continued attending nearby Drake University, where he was studying information systems, cybersecurity and computer science, and was commissioned as an officer after graduating from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
However, he decided to redeploy with this unit and continue online classes in Kuwait.
“He kind of planned it out, that he was adamant, like, ‘I’m gonna go with my unit,’” Andrew said.
Just a week before the fatal attack, his father said, Declan called him to let him know he was recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant, a rank he received posthumously.
The fallen service members were identified as Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Lakeland, Fla.; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa. Two additional soldiers killed in the attack have not yet been publicly identified. (U.S. Army Reserve Command Press Desk; Fox News)
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Declan’s sister, Keira Coady, tearfully remembered the day her brother left for Kuwait, showing reporters photos of him with their family’s cat.
“This was the morning before we dropped him off for him to leave,” Keira said. “He was our cat Autumn’s favorite. She’d sit in his room while he would game for hours and beg for attention, and he would give it to her. He’s 20. He was going to be 21 in two months.”
Keira Coady talks about her brother, Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, outside her home Tuesday in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)
Keira said the shock has not yet subsided, explaining, “I still don’t fully think it’s real.”
“I didn’t think it was real when they told us,” Keira said. “I just remember all of our conversations about what he was gonna do when he came back. And, so, I’ll just be sitting and thinking about it. It’s just, it’s really hard. … I didn’t have the same call this weekend that my dad and like my brother did [with Declan]. I just really wish I got to tell him I love you one more time because he was just so amazing.”
She added her brother was not one to let his emotions show, but she can imagine his fear on the day of the attack.
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“I can’t help but think, just, he was my little brother, and he was probably really scared even if he didn’t want people to know,” Keira said. “I wish he could have known one more time that we all loved him because he was so amazing and kind. … He was just like the best little brother you could have.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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4Warn Weather – The dangerous heat that gripped Metro Detroit Wednesday will ease, but having slightly lower temperatures does not mean that Southeast Michigan is in the clear.
The 4Warn Weather Alert remains in effect Thursday, as a thick plume of wildfire smoke from Canada settles into the region, bringing some of the poorest air quality this season.
While the Heat Advisory was allowed to expire Wednesday evening, the Air Quality Alert continues through Thursday, and for many communities, the smoke will pose the greatest health concern.
Unlike some air quality events driven by ozone or lighter smoke high in the atmosphere, this smoke is expected to settle close to the ground.
The result is unhealthy air pollution for the general population, with some neighborhoods potentially reaching very unhealthy and hazardous levels for a time, especially late Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
A few storms beating the odds Wednesday night
Although most of Southeast Michigan will stay dry Wednesday night, a few isolated thunderstorms developed Wednesday evening along the advancing cold front. Just enough instability developed for a handful of storms to briefly become severe.
The National Weather Service issued Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for portions of Oakland, Genesee and Shiawassee counties, with radar indicating the potential for wind gusts up to 60 mph and hail up to quarter-size.
Quarter-sized hail was reported in Holly at 7:19 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center noted the overall severe weather threat remained isolated.
Overnight, attention turns back to the arrival of dense Canadian wildfire smoke, which is expected to become the dominant weather story through Thursday.
Smoke thickens late Wednesday night
The cold front opened the door for dense Canadian wildfire smoke to pour into Southeast Michigan on Wednesday.
The thickest smoke is expected overnight into Thursday morning, when cooler temperatures and a stable atmosphere trap the smoke close to the surface.
Visibility may be reduced at times; skies will appear hazy, and many people may notice the smell of smoke even indoors.
Those with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, older adults, and pregnant women should avoid prolonged outdoor activity.
However, even healthy adults may experience irritated eyes and throats, coughing, headaches, or shortness of breath during periods of heavier smoke.
If possible:
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Limit strenuous outdoor activity.
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Keep windows closed.
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Run your air conditioning on recirculate if available.
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Change air filters.
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Consider wearing a properly fitted N95 mask if you must spend extended time outdoors in smoky conditions.
Still hot Thursday
Even though the oppressive humidity backs off behind the front, Thursday will not feel cool.
Afternoon highs climb back into the lower 90s, with “feels like” temperatures generally remaining in the lower 90s as well.
That is noticeably more tolerable than Wednesday’s triple-digit heat indices, but it is still hot enough to require frequent hydration and breaks if you are spending time outside.
The combination of heat and smoky air may make outdoor conditions especially taxing, even if temperatures are not as high.
Rain chances return
Thursday stays dry before moisture begins returning on Friday.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms become possible Friday afternoon and continue at times into Saturday as the next weather system approaches the Great Lakes.
Not everyone will see rain, but several opportunities for showers and thunderstorms develop through the weekend.
By Sunday and early next week, temperatures settle closer to normal with highs generally in the lower to mid-80s, along with periodic chances for additional showers and thunderstorms into Tuesday.
While the cooler weather will be welcome, air quality should also gradually improve as the weather pattern becomes more active and winds help disperse lingering smoke.
The wildfire smoke will lead to more vibrant and redder sunsets and sunrises. Share your weather and nature photos with Local 4 at MIPics.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
MILWAUKEE – The clock is ticking in the fight between ICE and Milwaukee. The federal Department of Justice gave Milwaukee until Friday to respond.
Law enforcement mask ban
The backstory:
In April, Milwaukee passed an ordinance that bans all law enforcement from wearing masks. There are exemptions for health or safety reasons. Those breaking it can face a fine of up to $10,000.
Supporters said it was part of what they called “ICE Out Milwaukee.” It was clear from debate, they were targeting immigration agents.
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The U.S. DOJ sent the mayor and city attorney a letter on July 10. It says the federal government will not comply. It tells the city to respond by this Friday, July 17, that it will not enforce the ban against federal agents.
One Milwaukee nonprofit leader critical of ICE responded to the situation.
“I look at the federal government’s threats to Milwaukee as analogous to David versus Goliath,” said Emilio De Torre of the Milwaukee Turners at Turner Hall. “David was doing the right thing in the face of of violence and oppression, and Milwaukee’s doing the right thing too. If a person is proud of what they’re doing, if they know that what they’re doing is legal and justified, then they don’t need to be a coward and hide behind a mask.”
U.S. DOJ ultimatum
What we know:
The U.S. Department of Justice letter was signed by an assistant attorney and also Brad Schimel, who leads the U.S. attorney’s office in Eastern Wisconsin.
It says the mask ordinance is unconstitutional by breaking the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause.
“This Mask Ban endangers federal officers and undermines federal law enforcement operations,” the letter also states. “The consequences are severe. Protecting the personal identities of federal officers and their families is especially critical in part due to the increasingly common threats of targeted harassment, tracking, interference, and assaults on federal agents for simply doing their jobs.”
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Several Milwaukee groups held a vigil and protest against ICE on Wednesday, July 15 in Burnham Park. That included Milwaukee Turners, the Milwaukee teachers’ union and Voces de la Frontera. They are criticizing recent deaths.
Portions of this article were formatted using A.I. FOX6’s Jason Calvi and an editor reviewed it for accuracy and tone prior to publishing.
The Source: Information in this story was gathered from the U.S. Department of Justice, and Emilio De Torre, the Milwaukee Turners, along with Milwaukee’s ordinance on law enforcement masks.
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