WATCH: VP JD Vance and Pete Hegseth Attend Dignified Transfer of Soldier Killed During Iran Conflict

Earlier today, the Pentagon released the identity of the seventh U.S. soldier killed during Operation Epic Fury.

His name is Sgt. Benjamin Pennington from Kentucky.

Full scoop here:

JUST IN: Seventh U.S. Soldier Killed in Operation Epic Fury Identified

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were able to attend the dignified transfer of Sgt. Pennington at Dover Air Force Base.

Watch here:

🚨 BREAKING: VP JD Vance and Sec. Pete Hegseth salute the dignified transfer of Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Kentucky, at Dover Air Force Base following the Iran conflict.pic.twitter.com/7PbIm0vMkW

— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) March 10, 2026

VP Vance and Secretary Hegseth also prayed over the fallen hero at the base.

See here:

🚨 JUST IN: VP JD Vance and SecWar Pete Hegseth pray over fallen Sgt. Benjamin Pennington of Kentucky at the dignified transfer from Iran

God bless this hero, these troops are the bravest among us 🙏🏻🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Mk2f563Qrp

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 10, 2026

Sgt. Pennington is the seventh soldier to have been killed in Iranian strikes.

He was injured on March 1st but sadly passed away from his injuries on Sunday.

CNN has more:

Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, from Glendale, Kentucky, died Sunday after sustaining injuries the week prior in an attack by Iran on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Pennington was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, a unit within the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command.

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Vice President JD Vance joined top military officials, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, in observing the solemn event. They saluted as the transfer case was taken across the tarmac.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called Pennington a “hero who sacrificed everything serving our country” in a Facebook post on Monday. Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said in a news release that Pennington “gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country that he loved.”

“That makes him nothing less than a hero,” Gainey said, “and he will always be remembered that way.”

Pennington enlisted in the Army in 2017 as a unit supply specialist. The Army said Monday he would be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.

A message from the Hardin County school district, where Pennington graduated the same year he enlisted, said he “represented the very best of our community, state, and nation.”

“We are profoundly grateful for his service and his devotion to our country,” the message said. “His dedication was exemplary and he has proven that by rendering the ultimate sacrifice.”

Flags were flown at half-staff in Hardin County in Pennington’s honor. County Judge-Executive Keith Taul said he’d known Pennington’s father for decades and that his family is “hurting pretty bad right now.”

Rest in peace, warrior.

Please keep all of the families of these fallen soldiers in your prayers, along with all of our troops.

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