Air Force Reviews Gold Star Benefits
PHOTO CAPTION: Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, an evaluator pilot with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, was one of six Airmen killed March 12, 2026, when a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury. U.S. Air Force courtesy photo.
The Air Force is reviewing the benefits of a Gold Star family after the widow of an Airman killed during operations against Iran said she was told some combat-related payments were unavailable because Congress has not formally declared war.
Libby Klinner, the widow of Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, said her casualty assistance officer told her the family would not receive certain additional benefits “because we have not declared war.” She said the missing amounts were tied to combat pay, including hostile fire or imminent danger pay and combat-zone tax exclusions.
Klinner later said the Air Force’s director of mortuary affairs informed her that the service was initiating an audit of the family’s benefits to ensure they receive everything to which they are entitled.
An Air Force spokesperson confirmed to NOTUS that officials spoke with Klinner and said the service was committed to making sure she and her family receive all eligible benefits.
The Air Force, however, has not publicly explained why Klinner was initially told the additional payments were unavailable or confirmed that the lack of a formal declaration of war was the reason. The service also did not say whether other Gold Star families have encountered similar issues.
Maj. Klinner, 33, was one of six Airmen killed March 12 when a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq while supporting Operation Epic Fury.
U.S. Central Command said the aircraft went down while flying in friendly airspace and that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire. All six crew members aboard were killed.
Klinner served as chief of squadron standardizations and evaluations for the 99th Air Refueling Squadron at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama. According to the Air Force, he was an evaluator pilot who helped oversee the proficiency and readiness of 34 aircrew members.
He entered the Air Force through ROTC at Auburn University in 2017 and accumulated 362 combat flight hours and another 181 combat-support hours during deployments supporting operations across multiple combatant commands.
The dispute over his family’s benefits now comes as U.S. forces remain involved in military operations connected to Iran without a formal congressional declaration of war.
For Klinner’s family, the issue is more immediate: whether every combat-related payment connected to his final deployment and death has been properly accounted for.
The Air Force says that question is now under review.
Sources: NOTUS; U.S. Department of War; U.S. Central Command; MacDill Air Force Base
(Source: OAF Nation)
