The latest US troops killed in Trump’s Iran war are remembered for lives of service | US-Israel war on Iran

A. He is a 30-year-old husband and father of two children. A 25-year-old police officer is just weeks away from earning his MBA. He is 19 years old, just graduated from high school. And she’s a 28-year-old from Queens, New York, with a “sparkling smile.”

The Pentagon this week found that three American soldiers were killed and a fourth is believed to have been killed amid rising tensions in the Middle East last week. attacks between US and Iranian forces.

These deaths bring the number of US soldiers killed since the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February up to 18, and hundreds of soldiers were injured, including nearly 100 since then. Only July 7. Pentagon’s in question Of the nearly 100 people injured since the beginning of July, 96% have returned to duty.

Donald Trump on Wednesday attended the honorable ceremony Transfer of US troops to Dover air base in Delaware.

Let’s take a look at the four soldiers the Pentagon named this week:

Michael Swinton, 30

Pentagon on Tuesday announced The death of Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, who authorities said was an active-duty soldier “supporting overseas operations in Iraq.”

Pentagon, Swinton was killed In operation in northern Iraq over the weekend during the destruction of what the army described on Sunday as “Shot down Iran’s one-way attack planeAt Erbil air base in Iraq. The investigation into the incident, which authorities described as a “controlled explosion”, continues.

Swinton was assigned to D battery, 2nd battalion, 55th air defense artillery regiment and 108th air defense artillery brigade at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, the Pentagon said.

His wife, Mia Gonzalez-Swinton, described him as a “wonderful man” in a message to the Guardian.

“He impacted everyone who crossed paths with him,” he said. “He was a wonderful father and a wonderful leader. He cared deeply and loved everyone in his life.”

He said Swinton leaves behind two children: a four-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son.

Army in question He said Swinton enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 as a 14H air defense early warning system operator and was reclassified as a 14E patriot fire control advanced operator/maintainer.

us army in question He said he would be promoted to staff sergeant after Swinton’s death.

Swinton’s mother, Christel Swinton Andujar, told the Guardian that her son was the kind of person who could “light up any room”.

“He had an infectious laugh, an incredible sense of humor, and loved making people smile,” she said in one message. “He was a real joker who believed that life should be lived to the fullest.”

He described her as “adventurous and fearless” and “always ready for the next challenge”.

“He embraced life with courage, confidence and willingness to take risks,” he said. “But beneath that adventurous spirit was a man of unwavering loyalty and strength.”

Above all, “Michael’s greatest love was his family,” he said, adding that his wife Mia and their two children were “the center of his world.”

“Michael was the most patient and loving father I have ever known,” he said. “He cherished every moment his children were around, making them feel safe, valued, and deeply loved. He carried that same soft heart into being an uncle. His nieces and nephews adored him because he always made time for them, encouraging them, and making them laugh.”

He told many people: “Michael wasn’t a hero just because he wore the uniform; he was a hero because he loved, protected, encouraged and inspired everyone around him.”

“His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, the laughter he shared, the strength he gave to others, and the unconditional love he poured out into his family. He will be forever missed, forever honored, and forever our hero,” he added.

Tyler Feehan, 25

First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, was supporting overseas operations in Jordan and was killed in 2015. Iranian attack Last week at Muwaffaq Salti air base in Jordan.

US Army in question Feehan enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2019 as a 12B combat engineer in the Hawaii Army National Guard and later commissioned as an active-duty air defense artillery officer in 2024 and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command as a platoon leader at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The U.S. military said Feehan would be posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.

Southern Utah University said: expression He said Feehan is both an SUU graduate and a current student of the school’s MBA program. The university said he was just a few weeks away from receiving his MBA from the school. His diploma will be awarded posthumously.

In a statement sent to the Guardian, Feehan’s parents, Shari and Stephen Feehan, said their hearts were “broken”.

“Our son, our ‘Tivo,’ was taken from us too soon, along with other American heroes who were injured or lost in the same tragic attack,” they said. “Tyler has had more life in just 25 years than most people achieve in a lifetime.”

“He relentlessly pursued adventure, whether it was reaching Everest Base Camp or walking the Camino de Santiago to France and Spain,” they said. “As a leader, he never hesitated to put his soldiers first, mentor them, share his love of finance, and promote the value of education every opportunity he got.”

His family said Feehan “believed deeply in the power of military service, especially the things it created in people: discipline, leadership and character. He was loved by everyone who knew him.”

“He leaves behind a grieving family – his parents, his fiancée who would become his wife after he returns from deployment, four grandparents and a large circle of aunts, uncles and cousins ​​who adored him.” “The next goal on her list was law school, a goal she talked about with the same confidence she used to quote Legally Blonde: ‘What, like, is it hard?'”

“Tyler, we are proud beyond words of you; we are devastated, yes, but prouder,” they said, adding: “No parent could have asked for a better son, and now our goal is to carry on your legacy.”

They concluded their statement by saying, “We just ask this: As we remember Tyler, people stop to see the good things this country still has, rather than the things that divide it” and that they are building a scholarship in their son’s name, “aimed at opening the doors of education to those who serve or hope.”

Isabella Gonzáles, 19

Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, was also killed. Iranian attack at Muwaffaq Salti air base in Jordan.

The Pentagon said Gonzales was assigned to command the 1st battalion, 57th air defense artillery regiment, 52nd air defense artillery brigade and 10th army air missile defense in Ansbach, Germany.

Gonzales graduated from Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas, in 2025 and then joined the U.S. military.

The Lewisville independent school district said in a statement to the Guardian: [army] “He benefited from his service and our district is deeply saddened by his loss.”

Anthony Tapia, 21, told the Guardian he and Gonzales met at army barracks in Germany and started dating in February this year “on a snowy night in Stuttgart when I asked her to be my girlfriend.”

“He was one of the most incredible people I have ever met; funny, playful, charismatic and so full of life,” Tapia said in a message. “He had a way of making everyone around him smile, and even in the most serious situations he could somehow find a reason to laugh, make a joke, or just put that beautiful smile on his face.”

Tapia said they will “talk whenever they can” during their time apart and are looking forward to taking a trip together in Tapia’s home state of Washington state.

“We talked about it so many times, saying this was going to be one of the best trips of our lives,” he said. “My family was so excited to finally meet him, and I was so excited to show him where I grew up.”

“We had a lot of plans,” he continued. “We talked about marriage, our future, traveling together, growing old together, building a life full of love and laughter. I truly believed we had so much time ahead of us.”

“There are no words that can fully describe the pain of losing someone I loved so deeply,” Tapia said.

“She was so much more than my girlfriend,” he said. “He was my best friend, the person I wanted to marry, the person I envisioned my entire future with, and someone who brought so much happiness into my life.”

“When I think of him, I don’t just want to remember how we lost him,” he said. “I want to remember the girl who always laughed. The girl who could make jokes in the most serious moments. The girl who was playful, funny, charismatic and impossible not to love. I want to remember her beautiful smile, her laugh, her energy and how she made an ordinary day feel special just by being herself.”

“I probably loved him more than he really understood,” she said. “I would give anything to see her one more time, to hug her one more time and to tell her one more time how much she means to me.”

Accordingly ABC NewsGonzales was posthumously promoted to private first class.

Melek Rampersad, 28

Pentagon announced Sergeant Angel S Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, was also “believed to have been killed in action” during the attack on Muwaffaq Salti airbase.

The Pentagon said Rampersad was assigned to the 1st battalion, 57th air defense artillery regiment, 52nd air defense artillery brigade, 10th army air and missile defense command in Ansbach, Germany.

Pesach Osina, a candidate for the state assembly in the district where Rampersad lives, said in a statement on social media: in question He said Rampersad was “truly a gift to everyone who knew him.”

“He never sought attention or recognition,” Osina said. “He just wanted to serve, protect others, and carry out his duty with courage and humility.”

“Since learning of this tragedy, I have remained close to Angel’s mother, Carol Acevedo, his father, Basdeo Rampersad, and their families,” he added. “There are no words that can ease the pain of losing a child, but our entire community stands with them at this unthinkable time.”

Deonne Jinkins, who was also in the US army, told the Guardian that they met Rampersad while serving in Germany in 2024, and that the two met through mutual friends and quickly became friends.

“We hung out like every weekend,” Jinkins, 22, said. “She truly was an angel. The sweetest person ever.”

Saying that Rampersad had a “bright smile”, Jinkins reminded that he did not have many plans for his birthday in 2024 and did not have many friends around, and said that Rampersad took him out for dinner and “we went out, we just had fun”.

“I will miss him so, so much,” he added.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said: expression “Sergeant Rampersad lived a life of courage and sacrifice. Let us honor his memory, remember his sacrifice, and keep all who loved him in our prayers.”