Kentucky soldier dies from injuries in Iranian counterattack in Saudi Arabia

WUKY | By Josh James

Published March 9, 2026 at 8:48 PM EDT

This image provided by the U.S. Army shows U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Ky. (U.S. Amy via AP)

A solider from Kentucky has died of wounds sustained during an attack in Saudi Arabia, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, a 26-year-old native of Glendale in Hardin County, was injured March 1 during a retaliatory Iranian strike on U.S. troops at the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. He died from those injuries on Sunday.

The Defense Department lists Pennington's death as the seventh U.S. service member death since the conflict began in Iran.

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— Andy Beshear (@AndyBeshearKY) March 9, 2026

In a statement, Gov. Andy Beshear described the decorated soldier as a "hero who sacrificed everything serving our country," and called on Kentuckians to pray for his family.

Hardin County Judge-Executive Keith Taul, a family friend, said the community is grieving "an unthinkable loss."

Pennington was assigned to the Army's Space Brigade, which aids in missile warnings, GPS, and long-haul satellite communications.