The seventh US soldier killed in the war with Iran was a decorated member of the Army’s elite 1st Space Brigade involving crucial air defense systems, officials said Monday.
Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Ky., died Sunday from injuries he sustained a week earlier during Iran’s retaliatory attack at the Prince Sultan Air Base, where he was stationed in Saudi Arabia.
“Sgt. Pennington was a dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism, and sense of duty,” 1st Space Brigade commander Col. Michael Dyer said in a statement.
“Our deepest sympathies are with his family, friends, and fellow soldiers.
“We remain dedicated to providing comfort and support at this time and will forever honor his legacy and ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” Dyer said.
Pennington was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, at Fort Carson in Colo.
The Army’s Space Brigade, stationed across six countries around the world, aids in the military’s ability in missile warning, GPS tracking, and long-haul satellite communications to troops.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear shared his condolences over the loss of the state native, who enlisted in the Army as a 92Y, unit supply specialist, in 2017.
“Sgt. Pennington is a hero who sacrificed everything serving our country,” Beshear said in a statement.
Pennington had received multiple awards across his years of service, including three Army Commendation Medals and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, according to DVIDS.
The slain soldier was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.
After the start of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, Iran began mass retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, with the Islamic Republic targeting American bases in the region.
The Prince Sultan Air Base was among the facilities hit on March 1, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps announcing that it fired missiles and drones at the base.
Satellite imagery of the aftermath showed the air base was largely destroyed, with one building shown completely caved in, the New York Times reported.
Officials said the incident is still under investigation.
Pennington is the seventh American to die during the war with Iran, which is in its second week. Six others were killed during an Iranian attack at an American base in Kuwait.
