Soldier awarded Bronze Star for Valor after Iranian drone attack

A soldier was awarded a Bronze Star for valor in the wake of a deadly Iranian drone strike on a U.S. Army operations center in Kuwait at the start of the war with Iran.

On March 1, Iran launched a series of retaliatory strikes on American bases around the Middle East during the opening hours of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. One of those attacks struck an Army position at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, killing six Army Reserve soldiers.

The Army confirmed that it recognized a separate soldier who responded at the site of the strike, Sgt. 1st Class Oscar M. McGrew, for his actions that day. The “V” device signifies that McGrew’s Bronze Star recognizes valor in combat.

“Sgt. 1st Class Oscar M. McGrew demonstrated extraordinary heroism during a ballistic missile and one-way unmanned aerial system strike at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, on March 1, 2026. His actions reflect the highest traditions of the United States Army and the selfless service expected of our noncommissioned officers,” Maj. Peter Sulzona, an Army spokesperson, told Task & Purpose.

The Port of Shuaiba at sunrise in Kuwait Oct. 1, 2022. — Port Shuaiba in October 2022. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Bolding.

McGrew’s award certificate identifies him as the Directorate of Logistics noncommissioned officer-in-charge for Area Support Group-Kuwait and credits his “bravery and aggressive actions under fire.” The certificate does not describe what those actions were.

In an email to Task & Purpose, the service wrote that “the Army will not release additional details about this incident until the families of those killed in action have received their official 15-6 investigation out briefs.” A 15-6 investigation is an administrative Army investigation used to establish facts and circumstances surrounding an incident. An outbrief provides the affected families with the investigation’s findings.

“We remain focused on supporting those families during an extremely difficult time and will share further information as appropriate,” Sulzona said.

Soldiers were working inside their operations center, a trailer-like building, when it was struck by an Iranian one-way attack drone. According to satellite imagery, the building had protection on the sides but not overhead. The Pentagon initially claimed that the building was fortified. Survivors later disputed that characterization, describing the position as unprepared to defend itself against the drone attack.

U.S. Army Soldiers with the 840th Transportation Battalion, 595th Transporation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, prepare to load M1 Abrams training tanks onto a vessel during night port operations in support of Exercise Bright Star 23 at Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, Aug. 13, 2023. Exercise Bright Star 23 is a multilateral U.S. Central Command command-post exercise, field training exercise, and senior leader seminar held in the Arab Republic of Egypt and other partner nations. The exercise strengthens military-to-military relationships and enhances regional security and stability by responding to modern-day security scenarios. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Capt. Katherine Alegado) — Soldiers load M1 Abrams training tanks at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait on Aug. 13, 2023. Army Reserve photo by Cpt. Katherine Alegado.

The strikes killed Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan; Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien; Capt. Cody A. Khork; Master Sgt. Nicole M. Amor; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady. All six were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, based out of Des Moines, Iowa. The drone attack was the single deadliest incident for U.S. troops in the Iran war.

Another March 1 attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia wounded Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, who died a week later from his injuries.

Since the start of the Iran war, 18 service members have died, and more than 800 have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon’s casualty database.