Fourth U.S. Soldier Killed in Iran Strikes Identified as Queens Resident

The Department of Defense announced Tuesday that a fourth U.S. service member lost in the recent wave of Iranian attacks has now been identified. The fallen soldier was Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad, a 28‑year‑old native of Ozone Park, Queens.

According to the Pentagon’s statement, Sgt. Rampersad was serving with the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, part of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade under the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. He was stationed at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan when the base came under fire on July 17, 2026.

“Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad is believed to have been killed in action during an enemy attack at the Jordanian air base,” the announcement read. “The incident remains under investigation.”

Rampersad joins three other service members already confirmed dead in the escalating conflict: First Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Hawaii; Private First Class Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Texas; and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 32, of North Carolina, who was killed while disarming a downed Iranian drone in Iraq.

The death brings the total U.S. military fatalities in the current Iran‑U.S. confrontation to 18. As the death toll rises, American forces have now bombed Iranian targets for an 11th straight night, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The latest strikes, launched at 7 p.m. ET, targeted command centers, maritime facilities, aircraft hangars and drone storage sites in an effort to curb Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Rampersad’s family, friends, and the entire Queens community,” said City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola in a joint statement. “We mourn the loss of a brave young woman who gave her life serving her country, and we pray for the safe return of all our service members.”

Despite Iran’s recent “unwarranted attacks” on more than 30 commercial vessels in the Strait, CENTCOM reports that the waterway remains open. Since early May, U.S. forces have helped escort roughly 900 commercial ships and moved about 450 million barrels of crude oil through the passage.

The identification of Sgt. Rampersad, a resident of one of New York City’s most tightly‑knit neighborhoods, underscores how the distant conflict is felt on the home front. Local residents have begun organizing vigils and fund‑raising efforts to support her family, while the broader nation watches the unfolding war with a mixture of resolve and apprehension.