Bellevue martial arts community honors fallen soldier on his 43rd birthday

Sgt. Noah Tietjens, who trained and taught at Martial Arts International, was remembered as a humble man who loved his family.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The martial arts community in Bellevue, Nebraska paid tribute to Sgt. Noah Tietjens, who was killed in Kuwait, on what would have been his 43rd birthday. Students and instructors at Martial Arts International, where Tietjens trained and taught, completed 43 sit-ups in his honor and held a candlelight vigil to remember him as a dedicated martial artist and family man.

Why it matters

Sgt. Tietjens' death is a tragic loss for the close-knit martial arts community in Bellevue, where he was known as a humble and hardworking instructor who cared deeply about his family. The tribute workout and vigil allowed his students and colleagues to come together to honor his memory and commitment to the martial arts.

The details

Martial Arts International in Bellevue held a special workout where students and instructors completed 43 sit-ups to mark what would have been Sgt. Tietjens' 43rd birthday. Grandmaster Julius Melegrito remembered Tietjens as a humble man who lived simply and loved his family, vowing that the community would look out for his wife and son. Master Daniel McCarthy, a friend of Tietjens', described him as a dedicated training partner who always pushed himself to improve.

  • Sgt. Tietjens' 43rd birthday would have been on March 6, 2026.
  • Tietjens and the other soldiers killed in Kuwait will have their remains arrive at Dover Air Force Base on Saturday.

The players

Sgt. Noah Tietjens

A soldier who was killed in Kuwait and had trained and taught at Martial Arts International in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Julius Melegrito

The grandmaster at Martial Arts International who remembered Tietjens as a humble man who loved his family.

Daniel McCarthy

A martial arts studio owner in West Omaha who was a friend of Tietjens and described him as a dedicated training partner.

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What they’re saying

“Because at the end of the day the only that mattered for Mr Noah is. 'I wanted my family taken care of,'”

— Julius Melegrito, Grandmaster (3newsnow.com)

“And we hold onto this light to continue and to move forward with Mr. Noah's legacy,”

— Julius Melegrito, Grandmaster (3newsnow.com)

“You can be sure that we're all going to step up wherever they need it,”

— Daniel McCarthy, Master (3newsnow.com)

“He's a hard worker. He was a really easy guy because he would keep pushing, keep going and you know, we say iron sharpens iron, so if I was training with Noah, I was going to get a good workout.”

— Daniel McCarthy, Master (3newsnow.com)

What’s next

According to Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn, the remains of Sgt. Tietjens and the other soldiers killed in Kuwait will arrive at Dover Air Force Base on Saturday.

The takeaway

The tribute workout and vigil held by the martial arts community in Bellevue highlights the deep impact Sgt. Tietjens had on those he trained and taught, and their commitment to honoring his memory and supporting his family in the wake of his tragic death.