Capt. Cody Khork, of Winter Haven, is one of at least six U.S. service members killed since the beginning of the war with Iran. Khork, 35, was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command out of Des Moines, Iowa.
ALSO READ: Army reservist from Polk County among 6 U.S. troops killed in Iran War
He and five other reservists were killed Sunday during an unmanned aircraft system attack in the Shuaiba port in Kuwait. The attack is under investigation.
In 2008, Khork graduated from Lake Region High School in Eagle Lake before moving to Lakeland to complete an undergraduate degree in political science at Florida Southern College in 2014. He enlisted in the National Guard after high school in 2009. Khork deployed to Saudi Arabia in 2018, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2021, and Poland in 2024.
Tributes to Khork and his fellow service members began to pour in online after the news broke.
“We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from the community and even the nation,” Stacey Khork, the serviceman’s stepmother, said in a Facebook message. “We are trying to make preparations and absorb our grief, in time we will be making statements and talking about him.”
A young man ready to lead
“From an early age, Cody felt a calling to serve his country,” his family wrote in a statement. “He began that journey by enlisting in the Army Reserve and continued on a path of honor and leadership through Florida Southern College’s ROTC program. That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was.”
His family describes Khork’s life as defined by devotion, character, and service.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Scott LaRonde of Lakeland was Khork’s ROTC commander at FSC for 2½ years.
While finishing up requirements after his senior year, Khork traveled to Senegal in West Africa with LaRonde. Khork worked as his assistant, facilitating the Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program between U.S. cadets and Senegalese students.
For the 2½ months that they were in Senegal, LaRonde said, Khork was always on the lookout for cadets who were struggling to adapt to the culture or managing their responsibilities.
“He had that knack for reading people and helping them feel more comfortable,” said LaRonde. He could always tell what people needed whether it was a laugh or someone to listen. “You walked away feeling better after five minutes with Cody.”
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After they returned from Senegal, LaRonde said, Khork asked him to be the one to commission him as an officer of the U.S. Army National Guard.
“He asked me, and I was absolutely honored,” said LaRonde.
LaRonde gave Khork the oath in December 2014.
“I was proud to do it because I knew this was a young man who was ready to lead people,” he said.
Looking back, LaRonde said, “I’m better for having had those 2½ years with him and especially those 2½ months in Africa.”
Tributes and memories
On Wednesday, Florida Southern remembered Khork on Facebook and Instagram: “Cody was known among his classmates, professors, and friends for his leadership, character, and commitment to serving others.”
The post quickly garnered thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, as friends, fellow students and strangers responded to the loss.
“Saddest news. Rest in peace friend. Thanks for protecting us and being the life of the party always,” one user wrote on Instagram.
“Will always be grateful for the time spent together, Cody. May you rest in peace in the arms of the Lord.❤️,” posted another.
Many extended prayers and condolences to Khork’s family. They thanked Khork for his sacrifice and service to his county.
Winter Haven extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fellow service members of Captain Cody A. Khork, a Winter Haven native who served our nation with honor. Khork was a Lake Region and Florida Southern graduate. Our community will remember him with gratitude. pic.twitter.com/0qYG1KpgVR
— City of Winter Haven (@mywinterhaven) March 4, 2026
The city of Winter Haven released a statement on Tuesday saying, in part, “Friends describe him as someone who was always smiling, easygoing and genuinely kind — someone who looked out for the people around him and left a lasting impression on those he met. Many recall that when you ran into Cody around town, it always felt like no time had passed.”
The statement listed Khork’s many awards and decorations, which included the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Superior Unit Award.
U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Lakeland, posted his condolences late Tuesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis, Polk County Public Schools and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd posted on Wednesday.
God bless @USArmyReserve Captain Cody Khork from Winter Haven, Florida, here in Polk County, who died serving our country. He was an American hero, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/NuiS7JhUo8
— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) March 4, 2026
Khork was a member of the Florida Gamma chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Florida Southern. The fraternity asked chapters across the country to observe a moment of silence in Khork’s honor in meetings over the coming weeks.
A GoFundMe page is online benefitting Cody’s family to cover “travel expenses above what the military is covering to receive Cody’s body, as well as travel expenses for out-of-state family to travel here to be with the immediate family." As of Thursday morning, it had raised nearly $20,000.
Anna Toms is a reporter for LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.
