A Minnesota family is mourning a heartbreaking loss after a U.S. Army reservist who was just days away from returning home was killed in a drone strike in the Middle East.
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, died when a drone struck a command center in Kuwait, killing six American service members. Amor had been nearing the end of her deployment and was expected to reunite soon with her husband and two children at their home in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
Her husband, Joey Amor, said the loss is especially difficult knowing how close she was to coming back.
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor wearing a U.S. army uniform with American flag in the background, Photo Credit: Military Support/X
“She was almost home,” he said Tuesday. “When someone deploys to Kuwait, you don’t expect something like this to happen. For her to be one of the first casualties there — it’s painful.”
Outside of her military duties, Amor was deeply devoted to her family. She loved gardening and spent many afternoons tending to plants in her backyard. Her husband said she especially enjoyed growing tomatoes and peppers, which she would turn into homemade salsa with her son, a high school senior.
She also cherished time withher younger daughter, often rollerblading or going on bike rides together.
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor with her husband Joey Amor, Photo Credit: Amy Klobuchar/X
According to her husband, Amor’s location had changed shortly before the strike. About a week earlier, she and other personnel were moved away from their main base and placed in a small building described as a shipping container-style structure with little protection.
The move was intended to reduce risk by spreading troops across several locations rather than keeping them concentrated in one place.
“They were worried the main base might get hit,” Joey Amor said. “The idea was that smaller groups in different areas would be safer.”
Tragically, the site where Amor was stationed ultimately became the target.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attending the return of six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed in a drone strike in Kuwait, Photo Credit: Lord Bebo/X
Her husband said the two last communicated roughly two hours before the deadly strike. She had been working long shifts and had mentioned that she had tripped and fallen the night before while on duty.
“We were texting about it,” he recalled. “Then the next morning she just didn’t answer.”
Amor served with the United States Army Reserve as part of the 103rd Sustainment Command, a logistics unit based in Iowa responsible for ensuring troops receive critical supplies.
She began her military career in 2005 with the National Guard before transitioning to the Army Reserve a year later. Amor had previously deployed overseas in 2019 to both Kuwait and Iraq.
Pentagon officials confirmed Tuesday that Amor was among the U.S. service members killed amid rising tensions involving Iran.
The attack occurred shortly after the United States and Israel launched a military campaign targeting Iran. In response, Iran fired missiles and drones toward Israel and several Gulf countries hosting American troops.
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor with her husband Joey Amor, Photo Credit: Joey Amor/Facebook
Also killed in the strike were Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, who was promoted posthumously from specialist.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz honored Amor’s service in a message online, writing that she “answered the call to serve” and gave her life for both her state and the nation.
For her family, the loss leaves a painful void — just as they were preparing to welcome her home.
Sources: Opposing Views