The youngest American soldier killed by an Iranian drone strike was an Eagle Scout who spent his teenage years giving back to his community and helping homeless youth.
Sgt. Declan Coady, of Des Moines, Iowa, was one of six Army members who died March 1 during a retaliatory attack on the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait by Iran, in response to Operation Epic Fury.
The 20-year-old Drake University student enlisted in the Army in 2023, but his former scout master and a fellow scouts in Troop 242 said he had always devoted his life to serving others.
Coady became an Eagle Scout — the highest rank in Scouting America — in June 2020.
Only about 4% of scouts earn the prestigious title, his former scout master Paul O’Connell told The Post.
For his Eagle Project, Coady led a group of volunteers and built 12 Adirondack chairs to donate to Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (IHYC).
“He had a special place in his heart for kids, you know, understanding that there were kids out there that don’t have the opportunities that he does,” O’Connell recalled. “He was doing everything he could to help.
“He did more merit badges than any other kid I know and a lot of them were community oriented.”
Some of those chairs were given to underprivileged people who were placed in permanent housing, said Austin Neal, community engagement coordinator for IHYC.
“His impact was great,” Neal said, noting that well after Coady’s project was done, he and his brother Rowan returned to the center in Des Moines and built storage shelves in its basement.
O’Connell said that Coady’s death has left former troop members, including his own son Ethan, shaken.
Among those grappling with the loss is Jacob Brown, 23, who was in Troop 242 and helped Coady with his Eagle Project.
Brown is a few years older than Coady, but said he was known as a leader among his peers.
“He was always nice, he was always helpful. Anytime anyone had a problem or a question, he was always one of the first people to help out,” he said.
Brown and Coady also attended West Des Moines Valley High School together, where Coady graduated from with a silver cord — meaning he completed more than 100 hours of community service, O’Connell explained.
“He had his whole life ahead of him,” Brown said. “I know a lot of people will miss him.”
The National Eagle Scout Association shared a tribute to Coady on Facebook, recognizing his contributions as both a scout and a soldier.
“Through scouting, school and military service, Declan made a difference in his community in a short amount of time,” the tear-jerking statement reads.
A GoFundMe created on behalf of Coady’s family has raised more than $116,000 as of Friday morning.
“Declan was more than a soldier — he was a son, a family member, a friend, and a light in the lives of those who knew him,” the page reads.
“He served his country with honor, courage, and dedication, embodying the very best of what it means to wear the uniform.”
The fallen hero’s military decorations included an Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon, according to the Army Reserve. He was trained as an IT specialist and posthumously promoted to sergeant.
His heartbroken sister Keira, 22, broke her silence on his death earlier this week, telling ABC she and her family had been in frequent contact with Coady, who was just two months shy of his 21st birthday, before the fatal strike.
“As his older sister, I can’t quite comprehend it even now, but the only thing I can think is that I wish I had called him one more time and told him I loved him,” she told the outlet.
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