Trump Attends Second Dignified Transfer as US Mourns Service Members Lost in Iran Conflict
Dover Air Force Base, Delaware – President Donald Trump on Wednesday paid his respects to the families of six U.S. service members killed in the crash of a KC-135 refueling aircraft while supporting operations against Iran. The solemn ceremony at Dover Air Force Base marked the second dignified transfer Trump has attended in three weeks, underscoring the growing human cost of the escalating conflict with Iran, which began on February 28th.
The crash, which occurred over friendly territory in western Iraq, claimed the lives of crew members from Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Washington state. The Pentagon has reported that approximately 200 U.S. service members have been injured in Operation Epic Fury, with at least 10 sustaining severe injuries.
Wednesday’s transfer was closed to media coverage at the request of the families, in accordance with military policy. Trump spent nearly two hours at the base, offering silent tribute to the fallen service members. He did not address reporters upon arrival or departure.
Accompanying the President were key figures including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, alongside Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt of Alabama.
The loss has resonated deeply within the military community and beyond. Retired Lt. Col. Ernesto Nisperos, a friend of one of the deceased, shared a poignant message, stating, “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.”
The fallen service members included Maj. John A. “Alex” Klinner, Capt. Ariana Linse Savino, and Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, all assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Also lost were Capt. Seth Koval, Capt. Curtis Angst, and Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, of the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio.
Trump previously attended a dignified transfer on March 7th for six service members killed in a drone strike in Kuwait. Following that ceremony, he acknowledged the emotional toll of the ongoing conflict, describing the transfers as “the toughest thing” he has had to do as commander in chief. He also expressed concern about the possibility of further such ceremonies as the war continues.
U.S. Central Command has stated the crash was not the result of hostile fire, but the circumstances remain under investigation following an earlier incident involving two aircraft in Iraqi airspace.
The increasing number of casualties raises questions about the long-term implications of the U.S. military campaign in the region and the potential for further loss of life. The conflict with Iran, now entering its second month, continues to draw international scrutiny and concern.