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President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer of four U.S. service members on Wednesday, marking an extremely solemn moment amid the war with Iran.
Wednesday’s dignified transfer welcomed home to rest 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan, 25, Sgt. Michael Swinton, 30, Sgt. Angel Rampersad, 28, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzalez, 19.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine were also present for Wednesday’s dignified transfer.
According to the U.S. Defense Casualty Analysis System, 14 U.S. servicemembers were killed in Operation Epic Fury, the United States’ initial campaign against Iran, which was launched in late February. With the tragic addition of four more fallen warriors over the past week, the unofficial casualty count of American service members has risen to at least 18.
Lt. Feehan and Pvt. Gonzalez were killed as a result of an Iranian strike on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, RSBN previously reported. Sgt. Rampersad is believed to have been killed during this same attack, according to the Department of War.
Sgt. Swinton was killed during a controlled detonation of a downed one-way unmanned aerial system (drone) at Erbil Air Base, Iraq.
Prior to the dignified transfer ceremony, President Trump spoke with reporters about the difficult situation.
“We’re going to honor them,” the president said. “…For me, it’s one of the hardest things to do as a president.
When asked what his message was to the families of the fallen U.S. service members, President Trump stated, “All I’m going to say is, ‘We love you. We love your child…’ There’s no games, no nothing. That’s their child. All you can do is throw out your heart.”
The war with Iran continued this week as the U.S. completed its 11th night of consecutive strikes against the regime. According to the U.S. Central Command, the strikes targeted Iranian military operations centers, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and more.