Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has issued a statement honoring three members of the Ohio Air National Guard who were killed during Operation Epic Fury.
According to the Ohio National Guard, the airmen died when a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq on March 12, 2026.
The three Ohio service members — Seth Koval, Curtis Angst, and Tyler Simmons — all served with the 121st Air Refueling Wing based in Columbus.
In a statement, DeWine said he and First Lady Fran DeWine join the state and nation in mourning the loss of the three “elite airmen,” whose work involved refueling aircraft midair during long-distance defense missions.
“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 said. “They served with honor.”
The governor also extended condolences to the families of Maj. John A. Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt from Alabama, who were also killed in the crash.
Following the official confirmation of the airmen’s identities by the U.S. Department of Defense, DeWine updated an earlier order lowering flags across Ohio and issued three individual orders recognizing the fallen Ohio service members.
The Ohio Airmen
- Capt. Seth Koval, 38, of Stoutsville, served as an aircraft commander with the 121st Air Refueling Wing. Koval had 19 years of service and joined the Ohio Air National Guard in 2006.
- Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, of Columbus, was a KC-135 pilot with the 121st Air Refueling Wing. Angst had 10 years of service and joined the Ohio Air National Guard in 2015.
- Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, served as a boom operator responsible for operating the aircraft’s refueling system. Simmons had eight years of service and joined the Ohio Air National Guard in 2017.
Ohio National Guard Statement
Matthew S. Woodruff, adjutant general of the Ohio National Guard, released a statement mourning the loss of the airmen.
“Today we mourn the loss of three remarkable Airmen whose service and commitment embodied the very best of our Ohio National Guard,” Woodruff said. “Their impact on their teammates and our mission will not be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and fellow service members, and our entire Guard family stands with them as we grieve together during this difficult time.”
