Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio honored on March 17 the lives and service of three Ohio National Guard members who died in a KC-135 crash in Iraq on March 12, 2026. The fallen service members were Curtis Angst, Tyler Simmons, and Seth Koval.
The tribute took place during a speech delivered by Moreno on the Senate floor. The senator said it was important to remember the sacrifices made by those serving in the military, especially during times of loss.
“We are absolutely the luckiest people on earth to live here in the United States of America,” said Senator Moreno. “We enjoy the blessings of liberty every day, but on days like today it is important for us to remember why we can live with these liberties. It is because of the selfless sacrifice of young men and young women, but in this case, three young men, that gave their lives for that. They signed up, as my colleague said, without hesitation. They served honorably, and with incredible sacrifice they gave the ultimate to this nation. These three Ohioans were the most courageous and selfless individuals of our great nation.”
Moreno’s remarks highlighted both gratitude for American freedoms and recognition of those who defend them at great personal risk.
The senator encouraged others to reflect on the meaning behind such sacrifices and acknowledged that these losses have a lasting impact on families and communities.
