U.S. soldier awarded Purple Heart following Iranian drone attack in Kuwait

An Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, Robert J. Connolly, has been awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during an Iranian drone attack on U.S. forces in Kuwait on March 1. The attack, which occurred during the opening days of Operation Epic Fury at Port Shuaiba, resulted in the deaths of six Reserve soldiers.

Reports indicate that service members wounded in the strike faced significant challenges regarding medical care. Due to a lack of major U.S.-run medical facilities in the region following troop drawdowns, injured soldiers reportedly dealt with bureaucratic delays, inadequate pain management, and difficulties in being evacuated to major facilities like the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Some service members were sent to outpatient appointments or private residences rather than receiving specialized hospital care.

LTC Connolly is currently assigned to the Soldier Recovery Unit at Fort Bliss, Texas, where the award ceremony was held.