One of the seven U.S. service members killed in the Iran war was an Army soldier based out of Fort Carson in southern Colorado, according to military officials. Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, a 26-year-old man from Kentucky, died Sunday from injuries he sustained in a March 1 attack on U.S. troops statio ned at Prince Sultan Air Base in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, according to a news release from the U.S. government. “It is with a heavy heart that we render a final salute to U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, Fort Carson, Colorado, in honor of his service to the nation,” space command officials said in a statement. “We mourn a life cut short and extend our heartfelt gratitude and sympathies to the family, friends, and community of Sgt. Pennington as we honor his ultimate sacrifice.” Pennington enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 and was assigned to the Fort Carson unit in June 2025, according to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. His awards include three Army commendation medals, an Army achievement medal, two Army good conduct medals, a National Defense Service medal and a Global War on Terrorism Service medal. The First Space Battalion of the First Space Brigade is headquartered at Fort Carson and supports the U.S. Army with “multidomain planning and operations,” according to the Space and Missile Defense Command. Related Articles Democrats’ priority bills on taxes, unions are up for key votes this week in the Colorado legislature PHOTOS: 2026 Colorado State Spelling Bee Colorado wants drivers on psychedelics to ‘plan your trip before you trip’ Former Colorado public defender convicted of child sex assault Name the train: Colorado Front Range rail leaders ask public to vote on finalists “He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved,” Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, a commanding general at Space and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement. “That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way.” All seven casualties from the war in Iran were Army soldiers. The first six deaths were Army reservists killed in a March 1 attack on a command center in a Kuwaiti port. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter. ...read more read less