UPDATE: March 17 at 3 p.m.
A funeral service has been scheduled for a Kentucky soldier who died from injuries sustained during an enemy attack at a military base in Saudi Arabia, while arrangements for a Kentucky airwoman killed in a military aircraft crash in western Iraq remain pending.
Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington of Glendale, Kentucky, will be honored at a funeral service Saturday, March 21, at Central Hardin High School in Cecilia, Kentucky. Pennington, who was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, will be interred at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Radcliff.
According to the U.S. Department of War, Pennington died March 8 from injuries sustained during an enemy attack March 1 at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. He was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Funeral services and burial information for Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt of Bardstown have not yet been announced. Pruitt died March 12 in the crash of a KC-135 refueling tanker in western Iraq. She was assigned to 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
Covering Kentucky
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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear recognized both service members, calling them American heroes.
"Sgt. Benjamin Pennington and Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt are two American heroes who called our commonwealth home, and we must stand together as Kentuckians to honor their sacrifice," Gov. Beshear said. "Please join Britainy and me as we continue to pray for their families, our fellow Americans in mourning and our brave service members."
Gov. Beshear will order flags at all state office buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the days of Pennington's and Pruitt's interments. Arrangements for Pruitt's interment are still pending.
Original Story:
A Kentucky soldier has died from wounds he sustained during an enemy attack at a military base in Saudi Arabia, according to the U.S. Department of War.
The DOW reported that 26-year-old Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, of Glendale, Kentucky, died March 8, from injuries sustained during an enemy attack on March 1, at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. He was supporting Operation Epic Fury.
Pennington was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, Fort Carson, Colorado. The incident is under investigation, the DOW noted.
Pennington will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, the Pentagon said.
Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the news on Monday morning, calling Sgt. Pennington a "hero who sacrificed everything serving his country."
In addition, Congressman Andy Barr released a statement:
Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron also shared his condolences following the death of Pennington.
A Kentucky hero has been lost in service to our nation. We owe a debt we can never fully repay to those who wear the uniform. Praying for his family and loved ones. https://t.co/enUDoouSBP
— Daniel Cameron (@DanielCameronKY) March 9, 2026
Senator Rand Paul shared the following on X:
Today, Kelley and I are mourning the loss of Benjamin Pennington, a courageous young soldier from Kentucky. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. https://t.co/SCQyk61iZs
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) March 9, 2026
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell released a statement on the death of Sgt. Pennington:
Today, Kentucky mourns the loss of one of our own: Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington, U.S. Army., a native of Glendale. Sgt. Pennington was killed by Iran in an attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia. Sgt. Pennington’s death is an awful reminder of the costs of Tehran’s decades-long war against American servicemembers. A grateful nation honors his life and his service to our country as he paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending American freedom. Elaine and I are thinking of his family during this difficult time, and we pray for our troops still in harm’s way in the Middle East.
The Hardin County Kentucky Judge/Executive Keith Taul ordered that the American flag be flown at half-staff at all county government buildings, grounds, and facilities from 1:45 p.m. on Monday until sunset on Wednesday in tribute to Sgt. Pennington.
