Independent military reporting for those who’ve served — and won’t stay silent.
A driver charged in the death of a decorated Army Ranger and ROTC instructor received a 30-day jail sentence after prosecutors reduced a felony vehicular homicide charge to a misdemeanor. Court records obtained by The Salty Soldier show that Jadon Demani Mike was originally indicted in Effingham County Superior Court on charges of Homicide by…
The Department of War has identified four Army Reserve soldiers killed in a drone strike in Kuwait during the opening days of the expanding war with Iran, marking the first publicly identified American casualties tied to the conflict. According to an official release, Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class…
Newly released court documents are shedding further light on the case of a Fort Bliss soldier who pleaded guilty in December to child sexual abuse material offenses and drug-related misconduct at a general court-martial. The charge sheet in the case of SPC JuliusJeremiah A. Finistertirado provides a clearer picture of when the misconduct occurred and…
An active-duty service member identified as Peyton Chance Leckelt, 21, is currently being held in the Virginia Beach Jail following his arrest during a civilian-led child exploitation sting operation. According to a press release issued by Predator Poachers, their investigation began after the February 15, 2026 apprehension of Sean Sayer of Naugatuck, Connecticut, who was…
As major combat operations continue under Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military death toll has climbed to six in the first three days of war with Iran. According to United States Central Command, the remains of two previously unaccounted-for American service members were recovered from a facility struck during Iran’s initial missile attacks in the region. Their…
A Texas-based U.S. Army infantry soldier’s hour-long TikTok Live stream on Monday, March 2, 2026, is drawing scrutiny after he repeatedly showed the inside of a fully packed CONNEX container filled with duffel bags and tough boxes labeled with service members’ names. The livestream came at a moment of heightened tensions between the United States…
Three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait late Sunday in what U.S. officials have confirmed was a friendly fire incident involving Kuwaiti air defenses. According to United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the aircraft were flying combat missions in support of Operation Epic Fury when they were mistakenly engaged…
KARACHI, Pakistan — U.S. Marines assigned to protect the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi are being credited with preventing the compound from being overrun Sunday after violent protests erupted in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. At least 10 people were killed and dozens more injured as hundreds of demonstrators attempted to breach…
Three U.S. servicemembers have been reported killed amid escalating military operations tied to the February 28 U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran, according to follow-on reporting citing U.S. Central Command sources. The confirmed fatalities mark a significant development in what initially began with official messaging describing “no reported U.S. casualties” during the first wave of Iranian retaliatory…
U.S. military installations across the Persian Gulf came under missile attack Saturday after Iran launched retaliatory strikes following a major joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iranian targets. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted American positions in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, according to multiple regional and international reports. Fifth Fleet Headquarters…
