Soldiers say Army downplayed Kuwait drone strike injuries

Two American soldiers wounded in a March 1 drone strike in Kuwait have accused the U.S. military of downplaying the severity of their injuries, contradicting public statements made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this year. The soldiers and their families described injuries including traumatic brain damage, shrapnel wounds requiring multiple surgeries, and lasting sensory loss, despite being officially classified as "not seriously injured."

The allegations center on Chief Warrant Officer Rodney Bearman and Sergeant First Class Cory Hicks, who were among more than 20 people wounded in the Iranian drone strike at the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait, an attack that killed six U.S. service members. In March, Secretary Hegseth stated that nearly 90 percent of the roughly 400 American personnel wounded in the conflict with Iran had sustained only minor injuries and had returned to duty.

Medical records reviewed by CBS News show Bearman suffered shrapnel wounds, a concussion, hearing and vision loss, and lung damage. His wife, Amy Bearman, said she was informed by an official phone call that his injuries were classified as "NSI," or not seriously injured, and that he had been...