Ohio airman Tyler Simmons among 6 service members killed in military aircraft refueling crash in Iraq
An Ohio Air National Guardsman with a “million-dollar smile” has been identified as the first of six service members who were killed when an Air Force refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.Tech.Sgt.
Tyler Simmons, of Columbus, was on board the doomed US Air Force K-135 Stratotanker before it collided with another K-135 over the “friendly airspace” as part of Operation Epic Fury, his family announced Friday.Simmons, 28, had spoken to his mom one day before his tragic death, where he had updated her on his deployment to the Middle East.“He called me on Wednesday, and we were able to talk to him,” Cheryl Simmons told WSYX.“I was over here, and we actually had a beautiful conversation.
I was like Tyler, how are you? He said I’m good.I’m good, but mother knows.
He was having some challenges, you know, he told me they had been shot at, but he was okay.”Simmons was assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Ohio’s Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base before being deployed to the Middle East as part of the military operations around Iran.The Columbus-based unit revealed three of its airmen were killed in the crash in western Iraq.“We share in the sorrow of their loved ones, and we must not forget the valuable contributions these Airmen made to their country and the impact they have left on our organization,” the 121st Air Refueling Wing said in a statement alongside a photo of a KC-135 with Ohio decals.“Additionally, we ask that you respect the family’s wishes and provide them with space to mourn their loved ones during this difficult time.”Simmons, a boom operator aboard the aircraft, was remembered by family for his personality and love for his job.“He had a million-dollar smile.
When people see my cousin, they’d be like, that smile is gonna take him places and it took him to his dream job,” Simmons’ cousin Tracy Peaks told WBNS.“He was truly an amazing man, and to do the job as an air refueler is a special person.You have to b...