President Trump, VP Vance Attend Dignified Transfer For 6 U.S. Troops Killed In Iran Conflict

President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and War Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Dover Air Force Base to attend the dignified transfer for the six American soldiers who were killed in an Iranian drone strike on a U.S. military installation in Kuwait last week.

The solemn ceremony began around 3 p.m. Eastern Time, with the arrival of a cargo plane carrying the flag-draped transfer cases. Carry teams consisting of seven Army soldiers in camouflage uniforms, black berets, and white gloves transported each case one at a time from the plane ramp, past the assembled dignitaries and families, to awaiting transfer vans.

President Trump, Vance and Hegseth were seen praying prior to the arrival of the plane.

Other key figures present were Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and military leaders such as Col. Jamil Musa, commander of the 436th Airlift Wing, and Col. Martha “Jeannie” Sasnett, commander of Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations. Several U.S. senators attended, including Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).

Governors present included Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Jim Pillen of Nebraska, and Ron DeSantis of Florida. Families of the deceased soldiers were also in attendance, and President Trump met with them during the event.

The fallen service members were identified as Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.

“I will be going to Dover Air Force Base tomorrow, with the First Lady and Members of my Cabinet, to pay our Highest Respect to our Great Warriors, who are returning home for the last time. GOD BLESS THEM ALL!” the president posted on Truth Social prior to the event.

When asked about the weight of the casualties by reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump paid tribute to the fallen soldiers and said he had spoken with their families. “I’m very proud of the people. The parents were so proud of their boy, their young lady,” he said.

The president went on to indicate that operations will likely continue for the foreseeable future, but did not give a definitive timetable. “We’re winning the war by a lot. We’ve decimated their whole evil empire. It’ll continue, I’m sure, for a little while,” he continued, adding that operations were proceeding as planned.