JOINT STATEMENT RELEASE
HEAVRIN, DENEEN ON
SGT. PENNINGTON'S DEATH
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Mar. 10, 2026) — The following is a joint statement from Rep. Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield, and Sen. Matt Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, upon learning that Sgt Benjamin Pennington died as a result of injuries sustained in the retaliation to the attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia last week.
“We extend our deepest condolences and offer our prayers to the family of Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, a decorated soldier who endured great sacrifice alongside members of his unit. His commitment to his fellow soldiers, his community, and our nation was unwavering.
“Sgt. Pennington’s devotion to service above self reflects the very best of America’s young men and women who answer the call to military service. We are grateful for his bravery, proud of his dedication to our nation, and we honor the legacy he leaves behind.”
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Pennington, 26, was from Glendale, Kentucky, and was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, part of the 1st Space Brigade, in Fort Carson, Colorado. He was injured during an attack on March 1 at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. He died from his injuries on March 8, according to a statement from the Pentagon.
According to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Pennington enlisted in the Army as a unit supply specialist in 2017. He was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion in June 2025.