Young, colleagues’ resolution honoring six fallen U.S. Service Members unanimously passes Senate

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 6:00 PM

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and a group of senators honoring the service of six American heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the loss of a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft over western Iraq while supporting Operation Epic Fury. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) joined Young in introducing the resolution.

The resolution honors Captain Seth R. Koval of Mooresville, Indiana; Captain Curtis J. Angst of Wilmington, Ohio; and Master Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons of Columbus, Ohio, who were members of the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base based in Columbus, Ohio, and Major Alex Klinner of Auburn, Alabama; Major Ariana G. Savino of Covington, Washington; and Technical Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt of Bardstown, Kentucky, who were members of the 99th Refueling Squadron of the 117th Air Refueling Wing located at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama.

“We continue to mourn the loss of Hoosier Captain Seth Koval and the Airmen who perished while bravely answering the call to serve,” said Senator Young. “We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice these American heroes made and continue to pray for their loved ones.”

Last week, Senator Young joined President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Caine, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), and Senators Britt, Tuberville, Banks, Moreno, Husted, and Sheehy at Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of the fallen service members.