HONORING THE LIFE OF SERGEANT DECLAN COADY

On 2026-08-20, Representative Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LIFE OF SERGEANT DECLAN COADY" in the House.

HONORING THE LIFE OF SERGEANT DECLAN COADY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 134 (Thursday, August 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 134 (Thursday, August 20, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E794-E795] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE OF SERGEANT DECLAN COADY ______ HON. ZACHARY NUNN of iowa in the house of representatives Thursday, August 20, 2026 Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sergeant Declan Coady of West Des Moines, Iowa, who was killed on March 1, 2026, in an Iranian drone strike while deployed to Kuwait with the 103rd Sustainment Command. Declan was just 20 years old. In a life cut far too short, he showed a rare devotion to service, to his country, and to the family he loved. Declan was born on May 5, 2005, in Manassas, Virginia, the third child of Andrew and Katherine Coady. He grew up in West Des Moines alongside his siblings, Aidan, Keira, and Rowan, The Coady's spent their time camping in our national parks, hiking, rafting, and exploring the outdoors. Declan and his brothers all earned the rank of Eagle Scout, but ever competitive, he set out to earn the most merit badges--and finished with 56. After graduating from Valley High School in 2023, Declan enrolled at Drake University to study information systems, cybersecurity, and computer science. He also enlisted in the Army Reserve, completing Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill in March 2024 and Advanced Individual Training that July. At Drake, Declan joined ROTC and faced a choice that says more about his character than any words could. He could have signed an ROTC contract and stayed home when his unit deployed. Instead, he chose to go with the soldiers he had trained beside. In August 2025, he deployed to Kuwait with the 103rd Sustainment Command. His family could hear in every call home how much his service meant to him. Even from halfway around the world, he made time to play video games with Aidan and to talk with his parents, Keira, and Rowan about their lives and their plans for the future. He dreamed of becoming an officer, talked about extending his deployment and going on to active duty, and stayed enrolled at Drake the whole time--studying online from Kuwait, an ocean away from campus. Declan had his whole life ahead of him. Yet at just 20, he had already made a choice generations of Americans before him had made: when his country called, he answered, and when his fellow soldiers deployed, he chose to stand beside them. I have served beside men and women who made that same choice, and it tells you everything about the kind of person Declan was. Declan is survived by his parents, Andrew and Katherine; his siblings, Aidan, Keira, and Rowan; his grandparents, Larry and Sandra Coady; and the many relatives, friends, classmates, and fellow soldiers who will carry his memory forward. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sergeant Declan Coady, a devoted son and brother, a soldier, and a proud Iowan who gave his life in service to our Nation. May we keep the Coady family and all [[Page E795]] those who loved Declan in our prayers. Iowa will never forget his service or his sacrifice. ____________________