A Kentucky man who joined the US Army shortly after graduating from high school is the seventh US service member to die in combat during the Iran war.
Army Sergeant Benjamin N Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, died on Sunday after being wounded during a March 1 attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, a Pentagon statement said on Monday.
Mike Bell, retired pastor of Glendale Christian Church, said he'd known Pennington since he was a toddler and got a call from Pennington's father when the soldier was injured.
"I talked to Tim Saturday morning, and he was doing a little better, and they were talking about maybe moving him to Germany," Bell said.
However, Tim Pennington called again that evening to say his son had succumbed to his injuries.
Pennington was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade of the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command based at Fort Carson, Colorado.
The unit's mission focused on "missile warning, GPS, and long-haul satellite communications," according to their website.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called Pennington "a hero who sacrificed everything serving our country".
The other six service members killed since the conflict began on February 28 were Army reservists killed in Kuwait when an Iranian drone struck an operations centre at a civilian port.
Pennington graduated in 2017 from Central Hardin High School, where he was enrolled in the automotive technology pathway, district spokesman John Wright told the AP.
Former automotive tech instructor Tom Pitt, who taught Pennington in 2017 at Hardin County Early College and Career Center, called him "an American hero".
"A lot of times as a teacher, you have students who are smart, you have students who are charismatic, who are likable, dare I say, enchanting," said Pitt.
"Rarely do you have students who are all of those. And Ben Pennington was all of those. He was basically the quintessential all-American."
"He loved his country. I would have expected nothing less of him than to lose his life protecting his country."
Pennington entered the service as a unit supply specialist and was assigned to the Space and Missile Command on June 10, 2025, the Army said in a release.
Among his awards and decorations were the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
"The US Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Pennington," said Lieutenant General Sean A Gainey, 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 Pentagon said.