Benjamin N Pennington - Operation Epic Fury -- OurWarHeroes.org

Benjamin N Pennington

Glendale, Kentucky

March 8, 2026

Age

Military

Rank

Unit/Location

Army

SSG

1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade

Fort Carson, Colo

Died of his wounds on March 8, 2026, from injuries sustained during an enemy attack on March 1, 2026, at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.

Sgt Benjamin N Pennington

From the Stars and Stripes stripes.com 03/09/26

Army sergeant from Kentucky who died after attack on Saudi Arabia ‘gave ultimate sacrifice’ By Matthew Adams Stars and Stripes • March 9, 2026

The Pentagon on Monday announced the identity of a soldier who died Sunday following an Iranian attack in Saudi Arabia. Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Ky., died from injuries sustained during an enemy attack on March 1, 2026, at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Pennington was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, at Fort Carson, Colo. The incident is under investigation, according to the Pentagon’s statement.
Pennington enlisted in the U.S. Army as a unit supply specialist in 2017. He was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, on June 10, 2025.
“Sgt. Pennington was a dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism and a sense of duty,” Col. Michael F. Dyer, 1st Space Brigade commander, 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.”
Some of Pennington’s awards include three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon.
“The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Pennington,” said Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, the USASMDC commanding general.
“He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved. That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.” Pennington will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, the Army said in a statement.
The U.S. and Israel launched extensive strikes against Iran on Feb. 28 after months of stalled negotiations over the country’s nuclear program.
President Donald Trump later that night announced the operation had resulted in the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader.
In addition to the strikes on Iran, Israel has attacked the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. Pennington is the seventh U.S. service member to die in combat as part of Operation Epic Fury.

From the Kentucky Lantern kentuckylantern.com 03/09/26

Kentuckian is seventh solider to die in Iran war action, says Pentagon
By: Liam Niemeyer - March 9, 2026 11:37 am

The Pentagon has identified the seventh soldier to have died in combat in the ongoing Iran war as from Kentucky.

Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale in Hardin County “died of his wounds” Sunday as a result of injuries he sustained during an Iranian attack at the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia amid Operation Epic Fury, according to a Pentagon release Monday.

The release states Pennington was assigned to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, serving in the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade in Fort Carson, Colorado.

Elected officials across Kentucky expressed their condolences and admiration for Pennington’s service Monday morning.

Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in a Facebook post asked for prayers for Pennington’s family and said Pennington is “a hero who sacrificed everything serving our country.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell issued a statement saying, “Sgt. Pennington’s death is an awful reminder of the costs of Tehran’s decades-long war against American servicemembers. A grateful nation honors his life and his service to our country as he paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending American freedom.”

Republican U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, who represents the Second Congressional District including Glendale, in a post on X asked for prayers and said “our nation is forever grateful for Sgt. Pennington’s sacrifice.”

The Pentagon also recently announced that 46-year-old Maj. Sorffly Davius of Cambria Heights, Queens, New York died Friday from a “non-combat related incident” at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. The Pentagon release stated he was a part of the New York Army National Guard and was assigned to the Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, 42nd Infantry Division in Troy, New York.

Senator Mitch McConnell 03/09/26

Today, Kentucky mourns the loss of one of our own: Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington, U.S. Army., a native of Glendale. Sgt. Pennington was killed by Iran in an attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia. Sergeant Pennington’s death is an awful reminder of the costs of Tehran’s decades-long war against American servicemembers. A grateful nation honors his life and his service to our country as he paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending American freedom. Elaine and I are thinking of his family during this difficult time, and we pray for our troops still in harm’s way in the Middle East. — in Washington D.C.

From the Lexington Herald Leader kentucky.com 03/09/26

Soldier from Kentucky killed in conflict with Iran, Pentagon says By Christopher Leach Updated March 9, 2026 1:57 PM

A soldier from Kentucky died Sunday, one week after suffering injuries as part of the U.S. conflict with Iran, according to the Department of Defense. Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, of Glendale, died Sunday, was injured in an attack at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to the department. Pennington was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, which is based in Fort Carson, Colo.

Glendale is an unincorporated community in Hardin County. “Sgt. Pennington is a hero who sacrificed everything serving our country,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear wrote in a social media post. “Please join Britainy and me as we pray for his family and our fellow Kentuckians during this difficult time.” pic.twitter.com/gmsv58DA8f — Andy Beshear (@AndyBeshearKY) March 9, 2026 Pennington, 26, enlisted in the U.S. Army as a 92Y, unit supply specialist in 2017. He was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, which is overseen by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, on June 10, 2025. “The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Pennington,” Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, USASMDC commanding general, said in a news release. “He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved. That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way.”

Pennington’s unit is the Army’s sole space brigade. It has soldiers in six countries across the world and “manages space capabilities and personnel to ensure the joint force can effectively deploy, engage and triumph in high intensity, multidomain conflicts against any adversary,” according to its website. The brigade has three battalions. Pennington’s battalion provides space combat power for Army and joint forces, according to the brigade’s website. “The capabilities provided by the 1st Space Battalion play a critical role in the Army’s strategy to conduct combined arms warfare across all domains,” the brigade’s website says. Pennington is the seventh U.S. solder who has died in the conflict with Iran, which has been ongoing for more than one week. The other six soldiers died in an Iranian missile strike at a civilian port in Kuwait one day after the war began. Little is known about the attack at Prince Sultan Air Base. The Department of Defense said it’s under investigation. Rep. Andy Barr, a candidate to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell in this year’s Republican primary, said he and “all of Kentucky” is mourning Pennington’s death. “God bless him and all of the service members fighting to rid the world of a regime that is the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the 21st Century,” Barr said on social media.

McConnell said he is praying for Pennington’s family and the soldiers still fighting in the Middle East. “Sgt. Pennington’s death is an awful reminder of the costs of Tehran’s decadeslong war against American servicemembers,” McConnell said on social media. “A grateful nation honors his life and his service to our country as he paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending American freedom.”

Former Attorney General Daniel Cameron said he is praying for Pennington’s family. “We owe a debt we can never fully repay to those who wear the uniform,” Cameron said on social media. A Kentucky hero has been lost in service to our nation. We owe a debt we can never fully repay to those who wear the uniform. Praying for his family and loved ones. — Daniel Cameron