Army releases rare account of soldiers surviving Iranian missile attack and how life has changed back home

The missile strike knocked all three soldiers unconscious inside a bunker at Prince Sultan Air Base. They survived, but the blast injured them and seriously wounded two nearby soldiers. Their quick response mattered because one wounded soldier was bleeding heavily.

Staff Sgt. Kalob Mitchell, Sgt. Xavier Jones, and Spc. Nicholas Cabo were thrown against the bunker’s opposite wall. Cabo had a bleeding leg, yet the three soldiers treated casualties, applied a tourniquet, and carried wounded soldiers outside. One injured soldier later wrote that they had saved his life.

The missile’s warhead contained about 250 kilograms of explosives, far less than some 750-kilogram warheads. All three received Purple Hearts on October 1 after returning to Fort Hood. Their recovery continued with anxiety, poor sleep, isolation, and airplanes sounding like attacking drones.

A ballistic missile is a weapon launched at very high speed, then sent along a high, curved path toward its target. Gravity shapes much of that flight. A drone or ordinary aircraft usually stays airborne with engines and steers continuously, often allowing slower, more controlled movement.

On March 27, Iranian ballistic missiles struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. One exploded yards from three soldiers in a bunker. The nearby warhead contained about 250 kilograms of explosives, compared with roughly 750 kilograms in larger missiles.

The difference matters because ballistic missiles can arrive quickly and with tremendous force, giving people little time to react. The article says air-defense units faced hundreds of drone and missile attacks across the region. Drones may buzz overhead and aircraft can resemble them, but ballistic missiles are far faster, more destructive weapons requiring specialized defenses.

The article cites Pentagon figures showing that 110 U.S. troops have been injured or killed in the Iran war. This total highlights the danger facing American forces during repeated missile and drone attacks.

A clear example is the March 27 strike at Prince Sultan Air Base. Three soldiers survived a nearby missile blast, while two others suffered serious injuries. The soldiers treated casualties despite being hurt themselves, including applying a tourniquet that may have saved a life.

The 110-person figure also includes the conflict’s less visible effects. The three soldiers described sleeping problems, isolation, anxiety, and heightened alertness after returning home. Cabo even mistook a small airplane near a Sam’s Club for a drone. These experiences show why military support must continue after troops leave combat zones.

The blast did not end when the soldiers returned home. Physical injuries and blast exposure disrupted work, sleep, social life, and their sense of safety. All three lost consciousness when the missile struck, then struggled with sleep, social withdrawal, and detachment from normal life.

Cabo managed treatment at three hospitals while handling regular military duties and appointments. He also reacted to a small airplane’s sound as though a drone were approaching, revealing how combat sounds could trigger fear at home. Jones said work felt strangely unserious while others had fun, and he was trying to lower anxiety and stop staying so alert.

Their experiences show that surviving the attack did not end its effects. They needed medical care, leave, and time to reintegrate, while everyday settings could still feel threatening. The experience also affected social connections, as withdrawing from activities made reconnecting with ordinary life more difficult. Months later, disrupted sleep, isolation, detachment, and sudden reactions remained part of daily life.

Air-defense soldiers were exposed because they were protecting military bases from incoming missiles and drones. Although usually viewed as rear-area troops, their defensive mission placed them directly in the attackers’ path. Adversaries also targeted these units, making them frontline combatants rather than sheltered support personnel.

On March 27, Iranian ballistic missiles struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. One missile exploded yards from Mitchell, Jones, and Cabo inside a bunker, knocking all three unconscious. The attack shows the mechanism clearly: defending against attacks does not remove danger when the base itself is targeted.

The Army said air-defense units faced hundreds of drone and missile attacks across the region. Many attacks targeted them directly, so soldiers repeatedly faced blast injuries while protecting others. Their experience shows air defense must be treated as combat duty, with serious attention to survival and recovery after attacks.

The soldiers’ first aid kept badly wounded comrades alive until more help arrived. A tourniquet quickly slows severe bleeding, making time for evacuation and medical treatment.

After the missile exploded at Prince Sultan Air Base, one soldier had a severe leg wound and was bleeding profusely. Cabo, Mitchell, and Jones applied a tourniquet, treated other injuries, calmed a disoriented soldier, and helped carry casualties. Cabo believed their actions saved the injured soldier’s life, and the soldier later wrote, “Your soldiers saved my life.”

The first aid mattered because the blast had knocked all three helpers unconscious and injured them too. Their rapid response turned survival into a real possibility before litters and additional rescuers arrived. The account shows why soldiers must act immediately after explosions, even while managing their own wounds.

Military bases use layers of defense. Sensors detect threats, air-defense weapons may intercept them, and alarms provide warning. Bunkers and medical teams then limit harm if a weapon gets through. Defense reduces risk, but cannot guarantee safety.

On March 27 at Prince Sultan Air Base, Alarm Red sounded before three warnings of “incoming.” A missile exploded yards from Mitchell, Jones, and Cabo inside a bunker. All three lost consciousness, but survived and treated severely wounded soldiers. Its warhead held about 250 kilograms of explosives, versus roughly 750 kilograms in larger strikes. Shelter, distance, and the smaller warhead reduced damage, but the blast still injured people.

Thus, even a successful interception or limited strike may not prevent casualties nearby. Blast pressure, debris, and violent movement can hurt people behind cover. The article reports hundreds of drone and missile attacks, making early warning, shelters, emergency care, and recovery support essential.