Funeral service announced for soldier from Glendale killed in Saudi Arabia

The funeral service for a service member from Glendale killed in Saudi Arabia has been announced.

U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, was critically injured during an attack on Prince Sultan Air Base on March 1. He died of his injuries on March 8.

He was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1^st Space Brigade, Fort Carson, Colorado. Sgt. Pennington served in the military since 2017.

A funeral service for Pennington, who was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, according to Gov. Andy Beshear, will be held Saturday, March 21, at Central Hardin High School, where he attended.

Pennington will be interred at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Radcliff.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell released the following statement on Sgt. Pennington’s death:

“Today, Kentucky mourns the loss of one of our own: Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington, U.S. Army., a native of Glendale. Sgt. Pennington was killed by Iran in an attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia. Sgt. Pennington’s death is an awful reminder of the costs of Tehran’s decades-long war against American service members. A grateful nation honors his life and his service to our country as he paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending American freedom. Elaine and I are thinking of his family during this difficult time, and we pray for our troops still in harm’s way in the Middle East.”

Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, died March 12 in the crash of a KC-135 refueling tanker in western Iraq. She was assigned to 6^th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

Funeral services and burial information for Pruitt have not yet been announced.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com