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The U.S. Department of War has confirmed the identity of a soldier killed in Saudi Arabia as that of a Hardin County man.

According to a release from the DOW, 26-year-old Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington of Glendale “died of his wounds on March 8, 2026, from injuries sustained during an enemy attack on March, 1, 2026, at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.” The DOW says Pennington was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, out of Fort Carson, Colorado.

Pennington graduated from Central Hardin High School in 2017. Hardin County Schools Early College and Career Center Automotive Technology Teacher Tom Pitt, who taught Pennington at EC3, said he learned of Pennington’s death from another former student Sunday.

“A lot of times as a teacher, you have students who are smart, you have students who are charismatic, who are likeable, dare I say enchanting,” Pitt said. “Rarely do you have students who are all of those, and Ben Pennington was all of those.”

Pitt called Pennington “the quintessential All-American.”

“He did Boy Scouts, he represented our school at SkillsUSA, he achieved an ASE certification through us,” Pitt said. “He was basically the Swiss Army Knife of students.”

In a post on Facebook, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said: “Kentucky, I am sad to share we just received news that Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington from Glendale has died due to injuries from an Iranian attack. Sgt. Pennington is a hero who sacrificed everything serving our country. Please join Britainy and me as we pray for his family and our fellow Kentuckians during this difficult time.”

Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul ordered flags at all county buildings, grounds, and facilities be flown at half-staff in honor of Pennington until sundown on Wednesday, March 11. Hardin County Government said in a release Hardin County citizens and organizations “are encouraged to join in this mark of respect by lowering their flags to half-staff during this period.” 

The DOW says the attack on Prince Sultan Air Base is under investigation.

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

The United Way of Central Kentucky has announced the 10 area organizations that will be receiving a total of $400,000 as 2026 funded partners.

“In Hardin County, we have CASA of the Heartland, Helping Hand of Hope, Warm Blessings Community Kitchen, New Hope Family Life Center, Legal Aid and Salvation Army,” said United Way of Central Kentucky President and CEO Christa Shouse. “In our outside counties, in Grayson County, we have the Grayson County Ministerial Association, Grayson County Alliance which is a food pantry, and Shepherd’s Pie in LaRue County, and I also want to mention that we are funding SpringHaven this year, who serve all five of our counties.”

Shouse said as a downturn in fundraising has been seen in the past few years, the organization has been putting an emphasis on funding basic needs organizations.

“Our pillars are financial stability, health, education, and the meeting of basic needs, and so when we see the downturn in funding and we know what needs are out in the community, we want to focus the money where it’s going to make the biggest impact,” Shouse said.

Shouse says the United Way is proud of its partnerships in the community.

“Those who are supporters, who stand beside us, who volunteer with us, who give their time, treasure and talent to United Way, they’re entrusting their donations and their time to a great organization that cares about our community, how those dollars are invested, and how we can make the best impact with their donations,” Shouse said.

Each funded partner applicant is vetted by the United Way’s Community Investment Team, which then makes its recommendations to the board of directors. Learn more at www.unitedwayck.org.