A pilot gave three Ohio National Guardsmen who recently died due to a tanker crash in support of Operation Epic Fury in Iran a special tribute by drawing a saluting service member along with three headstones in his flight path flown over the Buckeye State, just north of Columbus, on March 19. Following the deaths of the three guardsmen, Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine released a statement that also included flag-lowering orders.
DeWine started out his statement by saying that he and his wife Fran stood in mourning with others around the state and nation over the deaths of the airmen. “Fran and I join the rest of our state and nation in mourning the tragic deaths of three elite airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus. Capt. Seth Koval, Capt. Curtis Angst, and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons were trained to transfer fuel from one plane to another in midair, and their work was critical in long-distance missions in defense of our nation,” the statement read.
The governor then discussed the courage of Koval, Angst, and Simmons, noting that they knew the risks of these kinds of operations and still bravely undertook them and had the courage to put the lives of others above their own. “Every mission they undertook involved risks that they were willing to take and the courage to put the lives of others above their own,” DeWine wrote. He also paid tribute to several others who have died during the operation in Iran.
“They served with honor. We offer our deepest condolences to their families, as well as to the families of Maj. John A. Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt from Alabama, who died alongside them. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten,” he continued. The governor then concluded his statement by revealing he would be ordering flags to be lowered for the three airmen.
The order for Capt. Koval said, “In honor of the life and service of Captain Seth Koval of the Ohio Air National Guard, I hereby proclaim, by the authority vested in me as the Governor of the State of Ohio by the Ohio Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that the flags of the United States and the State of Ohio shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the State of Ohio today, and will remain until sunset on the day of his funeral.”
All three orders read the same. President Donald Trump also paid his respects to the three National Guardsmen, visiting the military base in Delaware where the remains of all six of the U.S. service members killed in the refueling crash were finally returned to their families. Trump was accompanied by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Speaker Mike Johnson, Gen. Dan Caine, and Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt.
“Every person on that aircraft carried a weight most Americans will never see, and they carried it with professionalism, courage, and a level of quiet excellence that deserves to be recognized,” retired Lt. Col Ernesto Nisperos, a friend of one of the courageous troops, stated in a text message.
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The total number of deaths from Operation Epic Fury is, as of this writing, 13 military members. Over 200 service members have been wounded, with 10 of those suffering from serious wounds, according to a report from FOX 8. The dignified transfer of the Guardsmen’s remains was closed to media coverage at the request of the families. President Trump spent a little under two hours on the ground and did not speak with journalists while leaving Air Force One or returning to it.
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video