Six U.S. service members who have been killed in a army refueling plane crash over Iraq final week have been recognized as members of the Ohio Air Nationwide Guard and Florida-based crew members.
The Division of Protection on Saturday recognized them as:
- Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana
- Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio
- Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio
- Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama
- Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington
- Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky
Koval, Angst and Simmons have been assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air Nationwide Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio.
Klinner, Savino and Pruitt have been assigned to the sixth Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Drive Base, Florida.
Nationwide Guard
Simmons’ mom, Cheryl Simmons, recalled to CBS affiliate WBNS Friday the second uniformed officers arrived at their house to ship the information.
“When he opened the door he mentioned, ‘Oh no,’ and I jumped up and ran in there and so they have been lined up out on the porch,” she instructed the station. “‘You bought to be kidding me.'”
The six serviced members died on March 12 when an aerial refueling plane participating in operations towards Iran crashed in western Iraq. The KC-135 plane went down close to Turaibil, which is alongside the Iraqi-Jordanian border, an Iraqi intelligence supply instructed CBS Information.
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth praised them as “American heroes.”
Air Drive Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, mentioned the crew was on a fight mission however flying over pleasant territory when the crash occurred. The incident is beneath investigation, the Protection Division mentioned.
