On Tuesday, relatives of soldiers who lost their lives in the ongoing Iran war joined Gold Star families from previous U.S. conflicts at the White House. President Donald Trump offered condolences during the event, where candles were lit to honor the deceased service members. This gathering took place in the wake of the March 1 attack that resulted in the death of six soldiers, marking the deadliest incident of the Iran war.
Not all families affected by this tragedy attended the event. Concerns were raised by surviving troops regarding the lack of adequate air protection at Port Shuaiba, a site deemed vulnerable and susceptible to attacks. Michelle Tietjens, whose husband, Master Sgt. Noah Tietjens, was among those killed by an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait, expressed her dissatisfaction with the Army's ongoing inquiry into whether proper precautions were in place to safeguard their loved ones.
Tietjens and her teenage son traveled from Bellevue, Nebraska, to participate in the event. Initially motivated by her son's interest, she also aimed to honor her husband’s memory. They visited several areas of the White House and took a photograph with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Tietjens stated that the event did not alter her feelings regarding the need for answers from the military. She noted that a representative from the White House offered to assist in seeking information related to the investigation.
This annual gathering commemorates Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day, celebrated on the last weekend of September. This year, nearly 40 fallen service members from conflicts going back to the Vietnam War were honored. The Iran war, which commenced on February 28, has resulted in 19 U.S. soldier fatalities and over 800 injuries.
During the reception, Tietjens also met family members of other service members killed in the conflict, including Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, who died at Port Shuaiba, and Pfc. Isabella Gonzalez, who was killed in July in an Iranian attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Families are still demanding answers regarding the events that transpired during the March 1 strike, expressing growing frustration about the lack of information from the Pentagon.
Joey Amor, whose wife, Master Sgt. Nicole M. Amor, also died in the attack, called for public support in demanding transparency regarding the decision-making and circumstances leading up to the attack that claimed six American lives. Survivors of the strike have shared their concerns about the unaddressed threats posed to their safety and commented on how the military medical system failed to adequately support them post-attack.
The Army has deferred comments on the situation surrounding the Port Shuaiba strike. Although an investigation was completed in June, the Army has not yet briefed the families on the findings, citing ongoing redactions of sensitive information before its official release. The Pentagon similarly declined to provide statements on the circumstances surrounding the families' demands for transparency.
John Thompson, a former Army sergeant and founder of Salute to the Fallen, stated that honoring soldiers who risked their lives in combat transcends political lines. He mentioned that several families could not attend due to insufficient notice regarding the event, which the White House sent invitations for only two weeks prior. Some relatives expressed they did not receive invitations, highlighting the difficulties in reaching families for notifications.
While several Gold Star families appreciated the recognition from the Trump administration, others felt disrespected by how the reception was handled. In the early phases of the Iran war, Trump had downplayed the situation, referring to it as a "little excursion" and later termed the conflict "small potatoes." Tina Marzan, widow of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, who was also killed in the March 1 attack, voiced her dismay at not receiving an invitation despite previously informing officials of her preference for limited contact. She strongly felt that she and other families should have been included in such a significant event.
Donna Burhans, the mother of Maj. Cody Khork, echoed similar sentiments, mentioning her lack of invitation while stating that even if she were invited, her grief made participation too painful. Conversely, Libby Klinner, the spouse of Maj. Alex Klinner, expressed her decision not to attend, attributing it to a lack of sufficient notice as well as her discontent with the administration's handling of military service members' lives.
