OAN Staff Addie Davis
3:15 PM – Wednesday, March 18, 2026
President Donald Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday to honor six U.S. service members killed during Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led campaign against Iran.
Standing on the tarmac in a solemn display of national mourning, Trump was joined by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), and the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The ceremony paid tribute to the six patriots of the KC-135 Stratotanker crew, who gave their lives in service to the nation during the opening chapters of the operation.
The six airmen died on March 12th in a refueling aircraft crash in western Iraq, and U.S. CENTCOM noted that no hostile or friendly fire was involved.
The Pentagon released their names on Saturday:
According to the Associated Press, the lives behind the uniforms were as vibrant as their service was selfless.
Klinner is survived by his wife, their two-year-old son, and seven-month-old twins, while Pruitt was remembered by her husband as a truly “radiant” woman. Savino, described by retired Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Nisperos as a “source of positive energy,” was a cherished friend and mentee. Koval’s wife honored him as a generous “fixer of all things,” and the family of Angst recalled a life defined by a “genuine love for people.”
Finally, Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio) shared a more personal glimpse of Simmons, noting his passion for fitness and the close bond he shared with his grandmother.
“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,” Nisperos said, per AP.
Wednesday’s ceremony marked the third dignified transfer since the onset of Operation Epic Fury and the second such somber homecoming President Trump has attended in person. This follows his appearance at Dover on March 7th to honor the soldiers lost during the initial drone strikes in Kuwait.
The death toll now stands at 13 U.S. service members killed during the campaign.
Six were killed in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait, and one died after sustaining injuries in an enemy missile and drone attack at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. A CENTCOM spokesperson also confirmed that about 200 U.S. service members have been wounded since the onset of hostilities, with the vast majority of injuries being minor.
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