Friday marked one week since Sgt. First Class Nicole Amor was killed in Kuwait, and on Saturday, her family stood on the tarmac at Dover Air Force Base as her body was brought back to the United States in a dignified transfer attended by national leaders and military officials.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar was among those present as six fallen soldiers were returned to U.S. soil, including Amor, a White Bear Lake native.
The other soldiers killed in action were Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist.
Klobuchar said the ceremony was defined by silence and respect, and for the families of the fallen.
“It was mostly quiet, you could hear the boots of the soldiers carrying the caskets,” Klobuchar said. “They saw their loved ones taken off the plane, their caskets draped with the American flag.”
Klobuchar said Amor’s husband, Joey, her fourth‑grade daughter, and her mother were all at Dover for the transfer. She said the family wanted to be there the moment Amor returned home.
“Nicole was just the most wonderful person as described to me by her mom and her husband,” Klobuchar said. “She clearly loved her children so much, and this is just heartbreaking for them.”
Klobuchar said several top officials were also present. “The President was there, and he met with the family,” she said. “The Vice President and his wife were there as well as the Secretary of Defense. You could see the Attorney General was there.”
As is protocol, Trump — wearing a blue suit, red tie and a white USA hat — did not speak during the transfer. The president saluted as each flag-draped transfer case was carried from the military aircraft to awaiting transfer vehicles, which would take them to a mortuary facility to prepare them for their final resting place. The families were largely silent as they observed the ritual, which lasted about a half hour.
“It’s a very sad day,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Florida later Saturday afternoon, saying that he was “glad we paid our respects.” He said the relatives of the deceased are “great people, great parents, wives, family,” and said that the “parents were so proud.”
Inside the base, Klobuchar said Amor’s daughter held a stuffed bunny as families waited to meet with officials.
“So many of the families, especially the moms, were crying,” she said.
Back in White Bear Lake, veterans gathered at the American Legion to honor Amor and support one another through the loss.
“It’s somber. It’s sombering. It’s not like it usually is in here, you know, enjoying a beer and having a good time and stuff like that, it hits home,” said Air Force veteran Paul Fick.
Fick said the community is still processing the news.
“A lot of mourning,” he said. “It still hasn’t sunk in.”
Veterans said the dignified transfer represents a promise to honor those who served.
“It’s important, okay, that you do this with complete dignity,” said Mike Martens, a senior officer at the White Bear Lake American Legion.
They said Amor’s service and sacrifice mattered deeply.
“You’re giving it your all. You’re dedicated. When you sign on that dotted line. Even if you’re a guard or reserve,” Fick said.
Even those who never met her said the loss is difficult to comprehend.
“You try to grasp it and try to understand, and it’s hard to look at,” Fick said.
Klobuchar said Amor’s family hopes to build a greenhouse in her honor, a tribute to her love of gardening and the time she spent making salsa with her son using tomatoes and peppers from their garden.
“This is a family that’s going to be grieving for a long time,” she said.
“Sergeant Amor made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. She will be remembered as a patriot who devoted her life to her country,” said Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith, who also attended the dignified transfer. “I was honored to bear witness to the dignified transfer of her remains alongside five other brave service members at Dover Air Force Base. With this solemn tradition, we express our deepest respect for the service and sacrifice of these fallen Americans and their grieving families. Our family and all Minnesotans support Sergeant Amor’s loved ones in their grief. I know Minnesota is wrapping its arms around them during such a heartbreaking time.”
