On March 1, 2026, Cody Khork — a U.S. Army Reserve captain — was killed, along with five other troops, when an Iranian drone struck his position on a base in Kuwait. And Khork's family is still waiting for answers, with his mother telling CBS News that her "son died unnecessarily."
CBS News' Jonah Kaplan, in an article published the day before 9/11's 25th anniversary, reports, "Jim Khork, along with his wife, Stacey, sat down for an exclusive interview with CBS News to share more about their grief, but also, their frustrations about what they consider is a lack of accountability for military shortcomings ahead of the deadly attack. The Army confirmed to the Khorks and CBS News that its probe into the deadly Iranian attack was completed in early July, but they have yet to release it."
Jim Khork, his father, told CBS News, "I just never thought it would happen."
A U.S. Army spokesperson told CBS News that "patience" is needed, adding, "The U.S. Army is committed to transparency and respecting the privacy of our Gold Star Families. Out of respect for the primary next of kin, who are currently being scheduled for briefs on the official findings of the completed investigation, we will not comment on specific details, individual accounts, or leaked portions of the report at this time."
But Cody Khork's parents are publicly speaking out.
Kaplan reports, "The Khorks said Cody, as a force protection officer, had delivered repeated warnings to the unit's leader, Brig. Gen. Clint Barnes, about the risk that Iran would attack their location, which was roughly 65 miles from the border. Multiple sources told CBS News that Army intelligence warned as early as January that Iran would attack the Port of Shuaiba in a potential war. 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."
Jim Khork, recalling his son's death, told CBS News, "The general kept asking Cody to call an 'all clear.' A captain can only tell the general 'no' so many times … We can speak for our son now. He can't do it but we can."
Stacey Khork, Cody Khork's mother, believes that her son's death could have been prevented.
Stacey Khork told CBS News, "My son died unnecessarily. Yes, he died for my country. Yes, he was a patriot. Yes, he was a hero. I hate to use the word murder because it's strong, but if a loved one of yours was murdered, our justice system is built to have accountability and to have atonement for that and for the grief of the family."
