Ohio General Assembly Honors Fallen Air National Guard Members Following Fatal KC-135 Crash in Iraq

The Ohio General Assembly has introduced a formal resolution to honor the service and ultimate sacrifice of six U.S. Air Force servicemembers who lost their lives on March 12, 2026. The resolution specifically recognizes three members of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing—Captain Seth R. Koval, Captain Curtis J. Angst, and Master Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons—who were killed when their Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker crashed during Operation Epic Fury in western Iraq. This measure serves as the state’s official gesture of mourning and a permanent record of the airmen’s contributions to national defense.

Honoring the 121st Air Refueling Wing

The resolution shines a spotlight on the 121st Air Refueling Wing, a unit based out of Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base that recently earned the Distinguished Flying Unit plaque for its combat readiness. By citing the specific technical demands of mid-air refueling, the legislation acknowledges the high-stakes environment these airmen operated in daily. It highlights the role of the boom operator and the precision required to transfer fuel between aircraft at high speeds and altitudes, framing the mission not just as a military necessity, but as a feat of extraordinary professional discipline.

A Legacy of Sacrifice

Beyond the technical details, the heart of this resolution is a formal expression of gratitude and condolence. It declares the fallen airmen as patriotic heroes and ensures that their names and the details of their final mission are etched into the state’s legislative history. For the families, friends, and fellow servicemembers of the 121st, this act provides a public, bipartisan acknowledgment of their loss. While the resolution does not change laws or allocate state funding, it serves as a significant symbolic gesture, affirming that the state of Ohio recognizes the human cost of military operations conducted in the defense of U.S. interests.