Six Americans were killed on Thursday when the KC-135 refuelling plane they were on crashed in Iraq during operations within the Middle East.
The crash brings the US death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at the very least 13 service members, with the seven others killed in combat.
The Department of Defence has now named the six soldiers killed as: Captain Ariana G. Savino, Major John ‘Alex’ Klinner, Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, Captain Seth R. Koval, Captain Curtis J. Angst and Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons.
The soldiers have been remembered for his or her ‘grit’, infectious smiles, and loving parenting.
Captain Ariana Savino
Captain Ariana Savino, 31, was based at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and was described as a ‘superstar’.
‘She was considered one of those individuals who lit up every room she walked into. That smile of hers wasn’t just infectious, it was disarming.
‘She brought energy, grit, and a ruthless commitment to creating everyone round her higher,’ her friends remembered.
Major John ‘Alex’ Klinner
Major John ‘Alex’ Klinner, 33, leaves behind his wife, seven-month-old twins and two-year-old son, having just been promoted in January and being deployed to the Middle East for less than per week.
James Harill, his brother-in-law, told local news: ‘He was just a extremely good dad and really loved his family quite a bit — like quite a bit.’
Major Klinner’s wife, Libby, wrote online: ‘I’m devastated to lose the perfect person I do know, the person who made every thing more fun, my best friend.
‘But much more so, my heart is broken for our three kids who will grow up not knowing him.’
Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt
34-year-old Seargant Ashley Pruitt was born in Bardstown, Kentucky, and leaves behind her husband, stepchildren and three-year-old daughter.
A GoFundMe arrange for her family reads: ‘She worked hard for the family she all the time wanted and cherished all of them.
‘Ashley’s loss leaves an unimaginable hole for her family, friends and fellow Airmen.’
Captain Seth R. Koval
Captain Seth Koval, from Mooresville, Indiana, leaves behind his wife Heather and his young son.
Heather wrote on Facebook: ‘Seth was a person whose life I could never confine to a single statement and whose loss will echo in my heart eternally.
‘Seth was exceptional in every thing he did. He was truly probably the most amazing husband, father, son, brother, friend, and Airman. He loved what he did, and he was proud to place his uniform on and serve others.’
Captain Curtis J. Angst
Captain Curtis Angst, 30, was born and raised in Wilmington, Ohio, and attended the University of Cincinnati.
He married his wife, Mary, last 12 months, and has been mourned by his hometown.
Wilmington City Schools Superintendent Tim Dettwiller sent an email to the community on Friday, showing support for Captain Angst’s mother, Lisa Angst, an worker.
‘Last night, the family of Lisa Angst… was notified by the military that her son was amongst those within the military aircraft crash in Iraq yesterday.
‘It was just announced that each one six crew members are deceased.’
Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons
Sergeant Tyler Simmons, 28, has been remembered for his ‘million-dollar smile’.
An only child, his mother, Cheryl, told local media she broke down in tears when uniformed officers got here to her home to inform her the terrible news.
‘When he (one other relative) opened the door, he said, “Oh no,” and I jumped up and ran in there, and so they were lined up out on the porch,’ Cheryl told local news, starting to cry.
What to know in regards to the crash
The KC-135 has been in service for greater than 60 years and has been involved in several fatal accidents, most recently in 2013.
US Central Command said the circumstances of the crash are under investigation but that the lack of the aircraft was “not as a consequence of hostile or friendly fire”.
‘War is hell. War is chaos,’ Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said.
‘And as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can occur. American heroes, all of them.’
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