A 28-year-old airman is one of six members of the military who died in a crash in Iraq during the war with Iran. Now, the family of Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons is remembering his dedication to serving his country while sharing their anger over the “uncalled for” conflict.
“He had his dream job, for sure,” Bernice Smith told NBC affiliate WCMH in an emotional interview following the death of her grandson. “He loved the Air Force.”
On Thursday, March 12, Simmons — along with Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, and Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, who were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio — died when a KC-135 crashed in western Iraq while supporting Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. Department of Defense announced.
Others killed in the crash included Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, Ariana G. Savino, 31, and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, who were all assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing. The U.S Central Command directed to the Ohio Air National Guard Public Affairs office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A KC-135 plane is used by the U.S. Air Force to refuel other aircraft while in the air, according to The New York Times. The U.S. Central Command previously confirmed that the incident involved two such aircraft, with one landing safely, the outlet reported. Neither friendly nor enemy fire was involved in the fatal crash.
Since the U.S.-Israel strike on Iran began last month, at least 13 American service members have died, the Times reported.
In a tribute to the “three elite airmen” from Ohio, the state’s Gov. Mike DeWine called their work “critical in long-distance missions in defense of our nation.”
“Every mission they undertook involved risks that they were willing to take and the courage to put the lives of others above their own,” the official continued. “They served with honor.”
After the names of the plane crash victims were released, grieving family members have shared their heartbreak, including Klinner’s loved ones. The Alabama-based pilot was promoted to major in January and had been deployed less than a week when the crash took place, his brother-in-law James Harrill told the Los Angeles Times. Alex was the father of 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son with his wife Libby.
“They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them,” Klinner’s widow wrote in an Instagram post, the Associated Press reported.
Simmons had dreamed of being a pilot since he was a child. He was known for his warm smile and joyous spirit, his family told WCMH. Simmons planned to serve in the Air Force until retirement, then become a civilian pilot.
The airman was building toward his goal each day. His cousin, Stephan Douglas, told the outlet that following the March 12 assignment, Simmons would have completed the required credentials to become a Master Sergeant.
“He was a leader,” Douglas told WCMH, “and he wanted to go into the Air Force and make a difference.”
Following Simmons’ death, Douglas said that the U.S. didn’t need to be at war, describing the conflict as “uncalled for.”
“Families are suffering right now. Not only our family, but there are other families that’s lost loved ones,” Simmons’ grandmother told the outlet. “Just to create a war, because you want to create a war, is not right.”
