President Donald Trump was joined by Alabama U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), along with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General John D. Caine, and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson at Dover Air Force Base this week for the dignified transfer of six American servicemembers killed during Operation Epic Fury — including three from Alabama.
Among those honored was Major Alex Klinner, 33, of Trussville — an Auburn University graduate and eight-year Air Force veteran who flew 362 combat hours and 181 combat support hours across four deployments. He is survived by his wife, Libby, and three young children.
“Attending the dignified transfer of Maj. Alex Klinner today was humbling and heartbreaking. In recent days, I’ve learned more about Maj. Klinner—the many lives he touched, the devoted family man he was, and his deep love of country,” Senator Britt said on Wednesdsay.
Maj. Klinner, he had been promoted to major and deployed for Operation Epic Fury less than a week before the crash. His three children are specifically a two-year-old and seven-month-old twins.
Also killed were Captain Ariana G. Savino, 31, and Technical Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, both of whom served in the 99th Refueling Squadron of the 117th Air Refueling Wing at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham.
Capt. Savino logged 348 combat hours across deployments in 2020 and 2026. TSgt. Pruitt, a wife and mother, flew 888 combat flight hours over deployments spanning 2018 through 2026.
All three Alabamians died in the loss of a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft over western Iraq, along with three Ohio-based airmen: Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus.
Of the two Birmingham-based servicewomen, Britt added, “Capt. Savino and TSgt. Pruitt were dedicated servicemembers whose lives were tragically cut short in devoted service to their nation. They were part of our community and exemplified the very best of what it means to be an Alabamian.”
“Wesley and I will be forever grateful to Ariana, Ashley, and Alex for their exemplary service and ultimate sacrifice, and we ask that all Alabamians join us in continuing to pray for their families and loved ones during this unthinkable time.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
