Soldier killed in Iran war remembered by martial arts community

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT/Gray News) - The martial arts community in Omaha is mourning after losing one of its own in the war with Iran.

Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens of Bellevue, Nebraska, was one of four soldiers killed in Kuwait when their facility was hit by an unmanned aircraft.

The sergeant’s friends said he was a dedicated family man and soldier. Tietjens was also a martial arts instructor at Martial Arts International in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Faith and Julius Melegrito, the owners of Martial Arts International, set up a poster in his honor.

“It’s Noah’s birthday tomorrow, which makes it even harder for everyone,” Faith Melegrito said.

She, along with the rest of the martial arts community, is in denial about Tietjens’s death.

“I’m hoping that this is one of those movies that — hey, sorry — he was supposed to be at that post but something happened and he went somewhere else and it’s all a big mistake, sorry," she said.

The Melegritos had stayed in touch with Tietjens while he was overseas. They sent him text messages and even tried to have him participate in a martial arts class over Zoom.

“He says, ‘I will try to be on there tonight — this is February 22nd — but I can’t guarantee I will be there. We are in the process of moving to a different location and not sure how long it will take.’ So even though he’s overseas, he trains. He tries to keep up,” Julius Melegrito said.

Tietjens had earned black belts in multiple martial arts disciplines. The Melegritos said that he was a hero even when he wasn’t wearing his military uniform, saying he once helped save someone who had passed out in the parking lot.

“Mr. Noah is a brave and amazing soldier. He is one of the most amazing human beings I know, who dedicated his life not just to the country but during his free time he dedicated his life to the students and the youth of our community,” Faith Melegrito said.

The Melegritos said the best way to honor Tietjens right now is to help his family.

“The family’s overwhelmed right now and they’re receiving a lot of messages. A lot of people wanted to help. Our community is such a beautiful community that’s waiting to lend a hand to anyone who’s in need and anyone they want to honor — and basically that’s what we want to do. We want to honor Mr. Noah," Faith Melegrito said.

A GoFundMe has been created for Tietjens’s family.