Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, remembered as devoted soldier and “life of the party” after deadly strike in Kuwait

The life and service of Cody A. Khork are being remembered by family, friends and fellow soldiers after the 35-year-old U.S. Army Reserve officer was killed in the line of duty during a strike on a U.S. military facility in Port Shuaiba on March 1, 2026.

According to the U.S. military, Capt. Khork was among six American service members who died when an Iranian strike hit the installation in Kuwait. The attack targeted a facility used by U.S. forces supporting operations in the region. Khork and the other soldiers were serving with the 103rd Sustainment Command, a logistics unit responsible for ensuring troops receive essential supplies such as food, fuel, water, ammunition, transportation equipment and other operational resources.

For those who knew him personally, however, Khork was far more than his rank or role in the military. Friends describe him as someone who had an infectious personality — a man who could quickly turn strangers into friends and lift the mood of any room he entered.

Khork began his military career in 2009 when he enlisted in the National Guard. Five years later, in 2014, he commissioned as a Military Police officer in the U.S. Army Reserve after completing his education. Over the following years, he served in several overseas assignments, building experience and strong bonds with fellow service members along the way.

His deployments included missions to Saudi Arabia in 2018, Guantanamo Bay in 2021, and Poland in 2024. Each assignment added to his record of service and reinforced the reputation he had earned among colleagues as a dependable leader and supportive teammate.

Beyond his military duties, Khork’s roots remained firmly tied to his hometown. He grew up in Winter Haven, Florida, where he attended Lake Region High School before pursuing higher education at Florida Southern College. He graduated from the college in 2014, the same year he became an officer in the Army Reserve.

Friends from both his civilian life and military career say Khork maintained the same personality wherever he went — warm, approachable and quick with a joke.

Morgan Evins, who served with Khork in the Army Reserve and deployed with him to Saudi Arabia, said their friendship grew over more than a decade of shared experiences in uniform.

“He was such a down-to-earth person, such a funny guy,” Evins recalled. “He always knew how to lighten the mood and just befriend everybody. Everyone was just magnetized toward this guy because he was such a good person.”

That ability to connect with people became a defining part of how loved ones remember him. In a statement released after his death, Khork’s family described him as someone whose presence brought energy and joy to those around him.

“Cody was truly the life of the party,” the family said. “He was known for his infectious spirit, generous heart and deep care for those who served alongside him and for everyone blessed to know him.”

The family also expressed gratitude for the support they have received from the community and the broader military family following the tragic news.

In Winter Haven, members of the community have come together to help Khork’s loved ones during what many describe as an incredibly difficult time. A verified GoFundMe campaign was created by local resident Hope Kay to support Khork’s mother, Donna Burhans, and other family members as they cope with the loss.

Messages of remembrance have also poured in online from friends, classmates and fellow soldiers, many recalling small moments that captured Khork’s character — his sense of humor, his loyalty to friends and his pride in serving his country.

Those who served alongside him say Khork cared deeply about the soldiers he worked with and the mission they carried out together. As part of the 103rd Sustainment Command, his work helped ensure that troops operating far from home had the supplies they needed to continue their missions safely and effectively.

While logistics roles often happen behind the scenes, they are critical to military operations, and Khork took that responsibility seriously, colleagues say.

For his family, the loss is immeasurable. Yet they say they find comfort in knowing how widely he was admired and how many lives he touched during his 35 years.

In their tribute, they emphasized what mattered most to him — the people in his life and the country he chose to serve.

Capt. Khork loved his family, his friends and his country, they said.

“We thank you for everything you did,” the tribute read. “You gave the ultimate sacrifice. Rest easy, Captain Khork.”