The parents of Army Reserve Capt. Cody Khork are pressing the U.S. Army to release the findings of an internal investigation into a March 1 drone strike in Kuwait that claimed the lives of their son and five other American service members. Although the Army confirmed that the probe was finalized in early July, the report remains withheld from the public.
Capt. Khork, who had recently returned from a deployment in Poland, was serving as a deputy force protection officer with the Iowa-based 103rd Sustainment Command at Camp Arifjan. In February, he was among a group of specialists relocated to a tactical operations center at the Port of Shuaiba in preparation for Operation Epic Fury. On March 1, the first day of the war with Iran, an Iranian Shahed drone struck the facility, resulting in the deaths of Khork and five of his colleagues.
Jim and Stacey Khork, the captain’s parents, expressed deep frustration over what they describe as a lack of accountability regarding military failures leading up to the attack. They allege that their son had repeatedly warned his unit commander, Brig. Gen. Clint Barnes, about the vulnerability of their location, which sat approximately 65 miles from the border. According to the family, survivors reported that Khork advised against declaring an “all clear” during periods of calm, but was overruled by his superior.
“My son died unnecessarily,” Stacey Khork stated. “If a loved one of yours was harmed, our justice system is built to have accountability and to have atonement for that and for the grief of the family.” Jim Khork added that they feel compelled to speak for their son, who can no longer advocate for himself.
In response to inquiries, an Army spokesperson requested patience, stating that the service is currently scheduling briefings for the primary next of kin. “Out of respect for the primary next of kin… we will not comment on specific details, individual accounts, or leaked portions of the report at this time,” the statement noted. Brig. Gen. Barnes did not provide a comment, and the 103rd Sustainment Command referred all questions to the Pentagon.
The strike has drawn significant scrutiny, with survivors and witnesses alleging strategic failures. Maj. Stephen Ramsbottom previously noted that the unit lacked adequate medical resources, including a fixed aid station or sufficient ambulances, forcing soldiers to treat their own wounds with makeshift supplies and transport the injured to local Kuwaiti hospitals in civilian vehicles. One soldier challenged earlier official characterizations that the facility was well-fortified, describing the unit as unprepared for a direct defense.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell previously defended the military’s actions, asserting on social media that every possible measure was taken to safeguard troops and that the facility was protected by six-foot walls. The incident has also prompted a separate investigation by Senate Democrats into the adequacy of resources provided to the unit.
For the Khork family, the wait for the official report is a painful extension of their loss. They continue to visit the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell monthly, keeping the memory of their son alive while they await answers regarding the circumstances of his death. The report also notes that cody Khork was eager to find another assignment overseas with his fiancée. The report also notes that i just never thought it would happen,” Jim Khork, Cody’s father, told. The report also notes that army is committed to transparency and respecting the privacy of our Gold Star Families. The report also notes that on March 1, while members of the unit holed up in a bunker amid air sirens, Cody’s family said many survivors of the attack and other officers on the ground told them Cody advised Barnes that the unit should remain there, even amid periods of calm. The report also notes that a captain can only tell the general ‘no’ so many times. The report also notes that a investigation began shedding light on what several survivors of the attack described as “strategic failures” ahead of, during and after the strike, but before the review was underway.
