Funeral arrangements released for Kentucky soldier who died after attack on US troops in Middle East

Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, died March 8 from injuries he suffered during the Iranian regime's initial attacks across the region as part of Operation Epic Fury.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Funeral arrangements were released Tuesday for a Kentucky soldier who died after being wounded during an attack on American troops in the Middle East.

Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, died March 8 from injuries he suffered during the Iranian regime's initial attacks across the region as part of Operation Epic Fury. Army officials said Pennington was seriously injured March 1 during an attack on U.S. troops at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Pennington was assigned to the 1st Space Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado, which is part of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Officials said the incident remains under investigation.

In a news release Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear called Pennington an American hero, and said he was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.

Funeral arrangements were also included in the news release. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 21, at Central High School in Cecilia, Kentucky. Pennington will be interred at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Radcliff.

Pennington procession route - 3.19.26 — This is the procession route for fallen Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, who died March 8 from injuries he suffered during the Iranian attacks. *(Photo courtesy of Ft. Knox)*

According to the Elizabethtown Police Department, a procession Friday, March 19, will take Pennington's body from Fort Knox to Trowbridge Funeral Home in Elizabethtown, with a stop in his hometown of Glendale. The public is encouraged to gather along the procession route to show support and honor Pennington. A tentative plan has the procession leaving Fort Knox about 2 p.m. Friday, using this route:

Knox Avenue (HWY 361) for about 4.8 miles
Left onto Joe Prather Highway (HWY 313) for about 3.9 miles
Right onto Patriot Parkway (HWY 361) for about 6.2 miles
Right onto Ring Road (HWY 3005) for about 3.9 miles
Right onto Bacon Creek Road for about 4.1 miles
Left onto Glendale Hodgenville Road W (HWY 222) for about 4.2 miles
After passing over I-65, HWY 222 becomes Dixie Highway (North 31W). Continue on Dixie Highway (North 31W) for about 7.4 miles to Trowbridge Funeral Home.

Beshear ordered flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of his interment.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced for another Kentucky soldier killed overseas. According to the Department of War, 34-year-old Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, of Bardstown, was killed in a KC-135 crash in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury.