New details have emerged about Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, a U.S. Army soldier from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, who was among the American service members killed during a drone attack on a military facility in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during the early hours of the escalating conflict involving Iran.
According to family members, Nicole M. Amor, 39, had been only days away from returning to the United States when the attack occurred. Her husband, Joey Amor, told reporters that the family had been eagerly awaiting her return home.
“She was almost home,” he said, describing the devastating moment when the family learned about her death.
The Pentagon confirmed that several U.S. service members were killed in the attack on the facility in Kuwait. Alongside Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, the Department of Defense identified Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, from Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, from Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, from West Des Moines, Iowa, among those who died in the strike.
Military officials said the attack occurred when a drone struck the location where U.S. personnel were working.
The strike formed part of the broader escalation that followed rising tensions between the United States and Iran in the region.
At the time the information was released, the identities of two additional American soldiers killed in the same incident had not yet been publicly confirmed.
Friends and relatives described Nicole M. Amor as a dedicated soldier and a devoted mother who balanced military service with family life.
She had received multiple recognitions during her time in the U.S. Army for her service and commitment.
Outside her military duties, Amor was known for enjoying gardening at her home in Minnesota.
According to family members, she often grew peppers and tomatoes and made homemade salsa with her teenage son, who is currently a high school senior.
She also spent time outdoors with her fourth-grade daughter, frequently rollerblading and riding bicycles together as a family activity.
The loss of Nicole M. Amor, Cody A. Khork, Noah L. Tietjens, and Declan J. Coady has brought renewed attention to the risks faced by U.S. service members stationed overseas, particularly as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.
Communities in Minnesota, Florida, Nebraska, and Iowa have begun honoring the lives of the fallen troops while military officials continue to review the circumstances surrounding the drone attack in Kuwait.
Defense officials said the families of all the victims are being supported by the military as the investigation into the attack continues.
