The spouse of an American service member who lost her life on March 1 during the Iran War confronted Vice President JD Vance regarding the military “mistakes” and “failures” that contributed to the loss of American lives.
Joey Amor, the husband of the late Master Sgt. Nicole Amor, questioned Vance about claims that an American base in Kuwait was inadequately protected when it was struck by an Iranian drone. This exchange took place during a town hall event hosted by CBS News, broadcast on Saturday evening. Master Sgt. Amor was among six U.S. Army Reserve personnel killed at the war’s outset. (RELATED: Iranian Strikes On US Military Bases Took Massive Toll, Pentagon Watchdog Reveals)
“While the Iranian drone was the tool that killed my wife, I believe there were many mistakes and fundamental failures that contributed to that,” Amor began. “She had shared things with me before her passing, and there are other soldiers who are aware of details but are hesitant to speak up. There’s a disconnect in leadership, and I want to know how this administration plans to hold those responsible accountable for the soldiers’ deaths that we honor and cherish.”
After expressing his appreciation for Amor’s sacrifice, Vance praised her service and assured him, “I will always remember her … and this discussion.”
“When you mention failures tied to the administration or the Department of War, I want to learn about that,” he added. “If there have been shortcomings — and I suspect there have been … this is honestly the first time I’ve encountered this, and I want to address it — I do not want these things to happen again.”
“Joey, I must say, we are trying to adapt, as warfare has evolved. Drones are inexpensive, quite lethal, and easy to produce. We’ve modified a lot of our strategies to counter drone attacks, aiming to safeguard our personnel and prevent further losses,” he elaborated. “But I really want to understand what improvements can be made and what those soldiers are witnessing. One challenge of this position—while it’s an enormous honor—is that it can feel somewhat insular, and sometimes crucial information doesn’t reach me. This is a moment for that information to come directly to me, and I guarantee I will take every instance of failure seriously and strive to rectify it. One way I intend to pay tribute to your wife is by looking into this matter deeply and figuring out what went wrong and how we can improve.”
“There were issues regarding troop placements that we recognized as significant errors, and we have made adjustments,” he noted. “Now, I can’t divulge too much because, certainly, I wouldn’t want the Iranians to gain any more insight into our operations that could endanger others, but I assure you, this is a conversation I won’t forget. I want to hear from those soldiers and from you to better grasp what we can improve. I commit to working on it.”
“Alright,” Amor replied. “God bless you.”
The fatalities of the six American service members were just part of the aftermath of the drone strike in Kuwait; other members had to be rushed to medical facilities to address serious injuries.
Various other topics surfaced during the town hall, including immigration and living expenses. Vance is thought to be the leading Republican candidate if he decides to enter the 2028 presidential race.
When asked by “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil whether he might opt out of running for the presidency, Vance acknowledged, “Of course, that’s a possibility.”
“In making major life choices — my wife will attest to this — I tend to procrastinate. I dislike the thought process,” he admitted, adding that he’ll “have to ponder it.”
