Death announcements · October 3, 2026
Named military death identifications, March and July 2026
Public identifications of six Air Force Airmen who died March 12, 2026, in a KC-135 crash in western Iraq, and of Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, who died July 19, 2026, at Erbil Air Base.
noticenearby.com/papers/military-casualties-dow-air-force-kc135-2026-03-14.pdf
This is a public list of named military death identifications. It is not a full biography and not a family obituary.
The Department of War identified six Air Force Airmen on March 14, 2026. They died March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq while supporting Operation Epic Fury. The Air Force story says the crash is under investigation.
A separate Army public-affairs story identified Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, who died July 19, 2026, at Erbil Air Base in Iraq.
Covington is in Washington state, King County, not Washington County, Oregon. A county shelf for Capt. Ariana G. Savino's home is https://noticenearby.com/wa/king. That link is a cross-link only. This page is not a second article on that hub, and it is not filed on Washington County, Oregon.
Maj. John A. Klinner
Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama, died March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq.
The Department of War announced the death on March 14, 2026, in an Air Force news story.
The story says six Airmen died while supporting Operation Epic Fury. It says the crash is under investigation.
This section is only the public identification. It is not a full biography.
Source: U.S. Air Force story of the Department of War release, March 14, 2026. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4434928/dow-identifies-air-force-casualties/
Capt. Ariana G. Savino
Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington, died March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq.
The Department of War announced the death on March 14, 2026, in an Air Force news story.
The story says six Airmen died while supporting Operation Epic Fury. It says the crash is under investigation.
This section is only the public identification. It is not a full biography.
Covington is in Washington state, King County. It is not Washington County, Oregon. Cross-link only: https://noticenearby.com/wa/king
Source: U.S. Air Force story of the Department of War release, March 14, 2026. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4434928/dow-identifies-air-force-casualties/
Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt
Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, died March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq.
The Department of War announced the death on March 14, 2026, in an Air Force news story.
The story says six Airmen died while supporting Operation Epic Fury. It says the crash is under investigation.
This section is only the public identification. It is not a full biography.
Source: U.S. Air Force story of the Department of War release, March 14, 2026. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4434928/dow-identifies-air-force-casualties/
Capt. Seth R. Koval
Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana, died March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq.
The Department of War announced the death on March 14, 2026, in an Air Force news story.
The story says six Airmen died while supporting Operation Epic Fury. It says the crash is under investigation.
This section is only the public identification. It is not a full biography.
Source: U.S. Air Force story of the Department of War release, March 14, 2026. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4434928/dow-identifies-air-force-casualties/
Capt. Curtis J. Angst
Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio, died March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq.
The Department of War announced the death on March 14, 2026, in an Air Force news story.
The story says six Airmen died while supporting Operation Epic Fury. It says the crash is under investigation.
This section is only the public identification. It is not a full biography.
Source: U.S. Air Force story of the Department of War release, March 14, 2026. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4434928/dow-identifies-air-force-casualties/
Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons
Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, died March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq.
The Department of War announced the death on March 14, 2026, in an Air Force news story.
The story says six Airmen died while supporting Operation Epic Fury. It says the crash is under investigation.
This section is only the public identification. It is not a full biography.
Source: U.S. Air Force story of the Department of War release, March 14, 2026. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4434928/dow-identifies-air-force-casualties/
Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton
Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, died July 19, 2026, at Erbil Air Base in Iraq.
An Army public affairs story said the Department of War announced the death on July 21.
It said he was killed in action during work to detonate a downed drone, and that the incident is under investigation.
He served with an air defense unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The announcement uses the rank of sergeant. It is not a full biography.
Source: U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command public affairs via DVIDS, July 21, 2026. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/570389/dow-announces-death-usasmdc-soldier-iraq
Notes and sources
- Short death announcements in our words. Not a pasted release. Not an obituary submission.
- Air Force source, opened October 3, 2026 PT: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4434928/dow-identifies-air-force-casualties/
- Army source, opened October 3, 2026 PT: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/570389/dow-announces-death-usasmdc-soldier-iraq
- Capt. Ariana G. Savino's home city, Covington, is in Washington state, King County. Cross-link only: https://noticenearby.com/wa/king. Not filed on /or/washington.
- Author and publisher: Notice Nearby. No personal byline.
Not legal advice. Not a newspaper. Not Legal Publication. Record of Sale, LLC (Oregon).