DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) 鈥� on Saturday joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base at the dignified transfer for the killed in the .
The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of U.S. service members killed in action, is considered one of the most somber duties of any commander in chief. During his first term, Trump said bearing witness to the transfer was as president.
鈥淚t’s a very sad day,鈥� Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Florida later Saturday afternoon, saying that he was 鈥済lad we paid our respects.鈥� He said the relatives of the deceased are 鈥済reat people, great parents, wives, family鈥� and said that the “parents were so proud.鈥�
Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance were present for the transfer, as were their spouses. A host of top administration officials were in attendance, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who wrote in a social media post Friday of 鈥渁n unbreakable spirit to honor their memory and the resolve they embodied”; Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence.
Also present for the solemn event were governors and senators from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Florida.
Those killed in action were Maj. Jeffrey O鈥橞rien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist.
As is protocol, Trump 鈥� wearing a blue suit, red tie and a white USA hat 鈥� did not speak during the transfer. The president saluted as each flag-draped transfer case was carried from the military aircraft to awaiting transfer vehicles, which would take them to a mortuary facility to prepare them for their final resting place. The families were largely silent as they observed the ritual, which lasted about a half hour.
The six members of the Army Reserve, who were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait, were all from the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies. They died just one day after the against Iran.
鈥淭hese soldiers engaged in the most noble mission: protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure,鈥� Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran, said earlier this week after the six were identified. 鈥淥ur nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.鈥�
During the ritual, transfer cases draped with the American flag and holding the remains of the fallen soldiers are carried from the military aircraft that transported them to an awaiting vehicle to take them to the mortuary facility at the base. There, the service members are prepared for their final resting place.
Amor鈥檚 husband, Joey Amor, said earlier this week that she had been scheduled to return home to him and their two children within days.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 go to Kuwait thinking something鈥檚 going to happen, and for her to be one of the first 鈥� it hurts,鈥� Joey Amor said.
O鈥橞rien had served in the Army Reserve for nearly 15 years, according to his LinkedIn account, and his aunt said in a post on Facebook that O鈥橞rien 鈥渨as the sweetest blue-eyed, blonde farm kid you鈥檇 ever know. He is so missed already.鈥�
Marzan鈥檚 sister described him in a Facebook post as a 鈥渟trong leader鈥� and loving husband, father and brother.
鈥淢y baby brother, you are loved and I will hold onto all our memories and cherish them always in my heart,鈥� Elizabeth Marzan wrote.
Coady was among the youngest people in his class, trained to troubleshoot military computer systems, but he impressed his instructors, his father, Andrew Coady, told The Associated Press.
鈥淗e trained hard, he worked hard, his physical fitness was important to him. He loved being a soldier,鈥� Coady said. 鈥淗e was also one of the most kindest people you would ever meet, and he would do anything and everything for anyone.鈥�
Khork’s family described him as 鈥渢he life of the party鈥� who was known for his 鈥渋nfectious spirit鈥� and 鈥済enerous heart鈥� and who had wanted to serve in the military since childhood.
鈥淭hat commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was,鈥� according to a statement from his mother, Donna Burhans, his father, James Khork, and his stepmother, Stacey Khork.
Tietjens, who came from a military family, previously served alongside his father in Kuwait. When he returned home in February 2010, he reunited with his overjoyed wife in a local church鈥檚 gym.
Tietjens鈥� cousin Kaylyn Golike asked for prayers, especially for Tietjens鈥� 12-year-old son, wife and parents, as they navigate 鈥渦nimaginable loss.鈥�
Trump most in December to honor two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter who were killed in . He attended dignified transfers several times during his first term, including for in Yemen, for two Army officers whose and for when a person dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire.
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Kim reported from Washington.
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