Six U.S. service members were killed last week when a military refueling aircraft supporting operations connected to the conflict with Iran crashed in western Iraq, according to U.S. officials. The crash occurred in “friendly” airspace and is now under investigation, but as details continue to emerge, families across the country are mourning not just fallen service members—but beloved parents, spouses, and children whose lives were defined by love and sacrifice.

Among them was Tech Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, a 34-year-old mother of two from Bardstown, Kentucky, whose life was defined by love for both her family and her country. Her husband, Gregory Pruitt, described her in a way that captures both her spirit and the deep loss her family now feels.

“I’ll give you something brief: in a word, radiant,” he said. “If there was a light in the room, she was it.”

Pruitt leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter and a stepson—two young lives now growing up without a mother who clearly brought warmth and energy into every space she entered. She had served in the military for nine years, logging nearly 900 combat flight hours and building a career she was “very, very” proud of.

The crash occurred while the aircraft was supporting operations in “friendly” airspace, making the tragedy even harder for families to process. An investigation is ongoing, but for those left behind, the focus is on remembering the lives—not just the loss.

Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, was another life taken too soon. A husband and father, Koval had spent nearly two decades serving his country as a pilot and instructor. But at home, he was known for something even more meaningful.

“He grew up dreaming about becoming a pilot and to stand beside him as he made his dreams come true was an honor,” his wife, Heather, shared.

Her words reflect both pride and heartbreak, but it was her expression of faith that stands out in the midst of grief.

“I will see him in the smile of our son and carry him with me in every moment.”

Koval’s family described him as a loving and generous man, a “fixer of all things,” and someone whose faith in Jesus shaped how he lived and loved.

That same spirit of service and kindness echoed in the life of Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30. His family said he was “doing what he loved most — flying and serving alongside the men and women he cared so deeply about.”

They remembered him as someone who brought joy wherever he went, noting “his constant smile and instantly recognizable laugh.” More than that, they said his life was marked by “a genuine love for people.”

Maj. John A. “Alex” Klinner, 33, had just been promoted and deployed less than a week before the crash. He leaves behind a young family, including 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son. His wife, Libby, shared a deeply personal glimpse into what their children will miss.

“They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,” she wrote. “They won’t see how goofy and funny he was… They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.”

Tech Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, was remembered by his family for the joy he brought to others.

“Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it,” they said.

Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, also lost her life in the crash, leaving behind a legacy of leadership and dedication as a pilot and operations chief.

As families mourn, one truth stands out: these were not just service members—they were parents, spouses, sons, daughters, and friends. Their lives were marked by love, sacrifice, and a deep commitment to something greater than themselves.

And for the families left behind, that love—and those memories—will continue to shine, even in the darkest moments.