V4V HONOREES-03-11-26

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan

Age: 54
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Later residence: Recently purchased a home in Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Unit: U.S. Army Reserve – 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), based in Des Moines, Iowa
Rank: Chief Warrant Officer 3

Role and service

• Marzan served as a warrant officer in the Army Reserve logistics structure, supporting operations that keep troops supplied with equipment, fuel, and food.
• His unit, the 103rd Sustainment Command, specializes in supply and sustainment operations for deployed forces.

Death

• Date: March 1, 2026
• Location: Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait
• Incident: An Iranian drone strike hit a U.S. command and logistics center.
• Marzan was believed to have died at the scene, with identification later confirmed through military investigation.

Background

• Grew up in Sacramento, California.
• Local leaders and members of Congress publicly honored him, describing him as a dedicated serviceman whose loss deeply affected the community.

Major Jeffrey R. O’Brien  Age: 45
Hometown: Waukee / Indianola area, Iowa (Des Moines suburbs)
Unit: U.S. Army Reserve – 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
Rank: Major

Role and service

• O’Brien served as a logistics officer in the Army Reserve, helping coordinate the supply chain supporting deployed U.S. forces.
• His command is responsible for maintaining equipment, supplies, and operational logistics in overseas operations.

Death

• Date: March 1, 2026
• Location: Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait
• Incident: The same Iranian drone attack on a tactical operations center that killed five other U.S. reservists.

Personal background

• A father and respected officer from Iowa, remembered by colleagues and family for leadership and dedication.
• Iowa officials ordered flags flown at half-staff to honor him and another soldier from the state killed in the strike.

Military Career

• Branch: U.S. Army Reserve
• Rank: Major
• Unit: 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Des Moines, Iowa

Commission and specialty

• Commissioned: 2012
• Branch specialty: Signal Corps officer (military communications systems).

Deployment history

• 2019 deployment: Kuwait.

Awards and decorations

O’Brien’s official decorations included:

• Army Achievement Medal
• Meritorious Unit Commendation
• Army Superior Unit Award
• Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• Army Service Ribbon
• Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device

Role in the Reserve

• As a field-grade Signal Corps officer, O’Brien would have overseen communications infrastructure, command-and-control networks, and information systems supporting logistics and sustainment units.

Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26

Pennington graduated in 2017 from Central Hardin High School, where he was enrolled in the automotive technology pathway, district spokesman John Wright told the AP. Former automotive tech instructor Tom Pitt, who taught Pennington in 2017 at Hardin County Early College and Career Center, called him “an American hero.”

“A lot of times as a teacher, you have students who are smart, you have students who are charismatic, who are likable, dare I say, enchanting,” said Pitt, who called Pennington Nate. “Rarely do you have students who are all of those. And Ben Pennington was all of those. He was basically the quintessential all-American.”

Photos on his and family members’ Facebook pages show that Pennington achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in August 2017. His Eagle project was the demolition of some old baseball dugouts in Glendale, said Darin Life, former committee chairman for Troop 221.

“If you look up Eagle Scout, his picture’s probably there,” said Life, who knew Pennington throughout his scouting career. “He loved his country. I would have expected nothing less of him than to lose his life protecting his country.”

A month after his Eagle ceremony, Pennington posted a photo of himself taking the oath of enlistment. He entered the service as a unit supply specialist and was assigned to the Space and Missile Command on June 10, 2025, the Army said in a release.

Joined the Army shortly after high school.

Entered service as a unit supply specialist and later served with Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
Awards included:

• Army Commendation Medal
• Army Achievement Medal
• Army Good Conduct Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Army Service Ribbon

This Week’s VIC 4 VETS, Honored Veteran on NewsTalkSTL.
With support from our friends at:
Alamo Military Collectables,  Gemini Wealth Group, H.E.R.O.E.S. CARE,Inc., Freddie's Market, and Michel Funeral Home