Vice President JD Vance joined the grieving household of a Kentucky man who was the seventh US service member to die in fight throughout the Iran conflict as his stays had been introduced again to the US Monday night.
The dignified switch, a solemn occasion that honors US service members killed in motion, came about at Dover Air Power Base in Delaware for Military Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky. He died Sunday after being wounded throughout a March 1 assault on the Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, a Pentagon assertion stated.
Vance and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth saluted alongside excessive rating navy officers because the switch case draped with the American flag was carried from the navy plane and into an awaiting automobile.
Mike Bell, retired pastor of Glendale Christian Church, stated he’d identified Pennington since he was a toddler and acquired a name from Pennington’s father when the soldier was harm.
“I talked to Tim Saturday morning, and he was doing somewhat higher, and so they had been speaking about perhaps shifting him to Germany,” Bell stated. Tim Pennington referred to as once more that night, Bell stated, to ask for prayers as his son’s situation was worsening, after which later advised him the soldier had succumbed to his accidents.
“He was only a quiet individual,” stated Bell, noting that Pennington attended the church’s after-school program. “I imply, he by no means attracted consideration as a result of he was simply regular doing what he wanted to do to do it.”
State and native officers grieve
Pennington was assigned to the first House Battalion, 1st House Brigade of the U.S. Military House and Missile Protection Command based mostly at Fort Carson, Colorado.
The unit’s mission centered on “missile warning, GPS, and long-haul satellite tv for pc communications,” in response to their web site.
“This simply breaks my coronary heart,” Keith Taul, judge-executive of Hardin County, the place Pennington was from, stated in an announcement emailed to The Related Press. “I’ve identified the household for at the very least 30 years. I can’t think about the ache and struggling they’re experiencing.”
Glendale is an unincorporated city of about 300 residents south of the Hardin County seat of Elizabethtown.
In an announcement posted on social media, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear referred to as Pennington “a hero who sacrificed every little thing serving our nation.”
Six different troopers killed
The opposite six service members killed for the reason that battle started on Feb. 28 had been Military reservists killed in Kuwait when an Iranian drone struck an operations heart at a civilian port.
President Donald Trump on Saturday joined grieving households at Dover Air Power Base on the dignified switch for these six US troopers.
The dignified switch is taken into account some of the somber duties of any commander in chief. Throughout his first time period, Trump stated bearing witness to the switch was “the hardest factor I’ve to do” as president.
‘An American hero’
Pennington graduated in 2017 from Central Hardin Excessive Faculty, the place he was enrolled within the automotive expertise pathway, district spokesman John Wright advised the AP. Former automotive tech teacher Tom Pitt, who taught Pennington in 2017 at Hardin County Early Faculty and Profession Middle, referred to as him “an American hero.”
“Lots of occasions as a trainer, you’ve gotten college students who’re sensible, you’ve gotten college students who’re charismatic, who’re likable, dare I say, enchanting,” stated Pitt, who referred to as Pennington Nate. “Not often do you’ve gotten college students who’re all of these. And Ben Pennington was all of these. He was mainly the quintessential all-American.”
Pictures on his and members of the family’ Fb pages present that Pennington achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in August 2017. His Eagle undertaking was the demolition of some previous baseball dugouts in Glendale, stated Darin Life, former committee chairman for Troop 221.
“When you search for Eagle Scout, his image’s most likely there,” stated Life, who knew Pennington all through his scouting profession. “He cherished his nation. I might have anticipated nothing much less of him than to lose his life defending his nation.”
Awards and decorations
A month after his Eagle ceremony, Pennington posted a photograph of himself taking the oath of enlistment. He entered the service as a unit provide specialist and was assigned to the House and Missile Command on June 10, 2025, the Military stated in a launch.
Amongst his awards and decorations had been the Military Commendation Medal, Military Achievement Medal, Military Good Conduct Medal, Nationwide Protection Service Medal, International Battle on Terrorism Service Medal and the Military Service Ribbon.
“The U.S. Military House and Missile Protection Command is deeply saddened by the lack of Sgt. Pennington,” stated Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, USASMDC commanding basic. “He gave the final word sacrifice for the nation he cherished.”
Col. Michael F. Dyer, 1st House Brigade commander, described Pennington as “a devoted and skilled noncommissioned officer who led with power, professionalism and sense of obligation.”
Pennington will likely be posthumously promoted to employees sergeant, the Pentagon stated.
