Youngest US soldier killed by Iran strike was Eagle Scout who helped homeless youth
The youngest American soldier killed by an Iranian drone strike was an Eagle Scout who spent his teenage years giving back to his community and helping homeless youth.
Sgt. Declan Coady, of Des Moines, Iowa, was one of six Army members who died March 1 during a retaliatory attack on the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait by Iran, in response to Operation Epic Fury.
The 20-year-old Drake University student enlisted in the Army in 2023, but his former scout master and a fellow scouts in Troop 242 said he had always devoted his life to serving others.
Declan Coady, pictured with Scout Master Scott Longwill (left) and Iowa Scout Representative Vince Morrissey, became an Eagle Scout in 2020.National Eagle Scout Association/ Facebook
Coady enlisted in the military in 2023.Declan Coady/ Facebook
Coady became an Eagle Scout — the highest rank in Scouting America — in June 2020.
Only about 4% of scouts earn the prestigious title, his former scout master Paul O’Connell told The Post.
For his Eagle Project, Coady led a group of volunteers and built 12 Adirondack chairs to donate to Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (IHYC).
“He had a special place in his heart for kids, you know, understanding that there were kids out there that don’t have the opportunities that he does,” O’Connell recalled. “He was doing everything he could to help.
