MN Soldier Killed In Iran War A Mom Of 2, Days From Return Home

WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN — A mother of two from White Bear Lake is among four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed in the war with Iran who were identified Tuesday by military officials.

Sgt. First Class Nicole Amor and the other three named on Tuesday died Sunday at the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait during a drone attack, officials said. All four were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies.

Amor, 39, was just a few days away from returning home to her husband and two children when she was killed.

“You don’t go to Kuwait thinking something’s going to happen, and for her to be one of the first – it hurts,” Joey Amor, her husband, said Tuesday.

Amor was an avid gardener who enjoyed making salsa from the peppers and tomatoes in her garden with her son, a senior in high school. She also enjoyed rollerblading and bicycling with her fourth-grade daughter.

“If you needed anything she would just take care of it for you," Joey Amor said. "She’s helped a lot of people through a lot of dark times, and brought a lot of light to this world.”

As of Tuesday, six U.S. soldiers had been killed in the war, but two had not been identified.

In addition to Amor, the others whose names were released Tuesday included:

• Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida;
• Sgt. First Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska;
• Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines.

“Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is,” President Donald Trump said of deaths.

Amor enlisted in the National Guard as an automated logistics specialist in 2005, according to the Army Reserve. She transferred to the Reserve in 2006 and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019.

Amor’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, according to the Army Reserve.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.