Airman’s widow says she was told Iran ‘wasn’t a war’ while fighting for his military benefits

WASHINGTON, DC: The widow of Air Force Maj Alex Klinner says she was frustrated while sorting out her late husband’s military benefits after being told he was not eligible for certain payments because the US was “not at war” with Iran.

Klinner, 33, was one of six crew members aboard a KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq in March while supporting US operations against Iran. His widow, Libby Klinner, said the issue was eventually reviewed by the Air Force after she raised concerns on social media over the weekend.

Libby Klinner’s viral post prompts Pentagon response

Libby said a military officer assigned to support her after her husband’s death told her he was not eligible for certain hazard pay and combat-related tax breaks because “we were not at war.”

“My husband lost his life because we're in a war, and then I was told that because it's not technically a war, we lose out on something,” Klinner told The Associated Press. “It all comes down to principle.”

Her post quickly gained national attention, prompting Vice President JD Vance to address the issue during a White House briefing Thursday.

“We want to be as helpful as we can and ensure she gets everything that she is entitled to,” Vance said.

“My message to her would be, ‘We love ya, we're grateful for the sacrifice and we very much take very seriously our commitment to get you what you need to get,’” he added.

Vance, however, rejected the use of the word “war” to describe the current US fighting in Iran, saying there was “no active shooting.”

President Donald Trump also defended Vance’s comments Friday and described the US strikes as “intermittent.”

“I call it a military conflict because it's small potatoes for us,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Air Force clarifies Alex Klinner’s combat benefits

The Air Force contacted Libby this week and told her it was reviewing her late husband’s pay.

She said officials acknowledged Thursday that she had initially been given inaccurate information and clarified that she was receiving the full pay and benefits Alex was owed.

According to Libby, officials told her that Alex’s final paycheck had already included the combat-related hazard pay and tax breaks, although they had been incorrectly itemized.

The combat pay in question is $225 per month and does not depend on a formal declaration of war.

It applies to service members serving in areas where there is a “grave danger of physical injury” or where they could be “killed, injured, or wounded by a hostile fire event.”

Alex’s final paycheck would have included half of that monthly amount because service members are paid twice each month.

Libby did not disclose how much she was initially told her husband would not receive.

The Air Force said officials spoke with her to “ensure all her questions are fully addressed” and confirmed that “all eligible combat theater benefits were included” in Alex’s pay.

“We remain committed to providing clear information and continued support to Mrs. Klinner, as well as all the families of the Airmen who died in the KC-135 crash,” the Air Force said. 

Trump administration faces questions over Iran operations

The dispute comes as the Trump administration continues to reject describing the current Iran operations as a war.

In late July, the administration created a separate category in the Pentagon’s casualty count system for those killed and wounded in renewed US-Iran fighting.

Pentagon officials said the change followed the end of ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ the original name for combat operations against Tehran.

Since July 7, US casualties in the Middle East have been listed under “Overseas Operations.” 

Alex was one of 18 US service members killed, along with 790 wounded, since the conflict began more than six months ago, according to the information provided.

For Libby, however, the issue goes beyond the terminology being used in Washington.

She said she hopes speaking publicly will help other military families avoid facing similar confusion while grieving.

“I am very fortunate to have a significant support system around us and a platform to advocate for myself and for my kids. Other families may not have those resources,” she said.

“If I can do anything to make this awful situation a little bit easier for someone else to navigate, then I am more than willing to do so.”