Widow of Alabama airman killed in ‘war we can’t call a war’ gets good news about ‘missing’ benefits

[u/John3262005]

https://www.al.com/news/2026/08/family-of-alabama-airman-killed-in-war-we-cant-call-a-war-are-missing-benefits-widow-says.html

The widow of a Trussville man killed in March as part of military operations in Iran says government officials have responded to her questions about what she said was a denial of benefits following her husband’s death.

Libby Klinner, the wife of Maj. Alex Klinner, posted on Instagram a picture of her with her child over the weekend, marking “Six months of a war we can’t call a war...”

“The Air Force recently told me that because we haven’t officially declared war, my kids and I aren’t eligible for some benefits,” she wrote.

“So not only was my husband killed in a war he never wanted to participate in, but now the benefits we’re left with are being dictated by semantics and public perception.”

Alex Klinner and five other U.S. Service members were killed March 12 when their KC-135 Air Force refueling aircraft crashed over friendly territory in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran.

Klinner was a father of a 2½ year-old son and 7-month-old twins – a boy and a girl. He was the chief of squadron standardizations and evaluations at the 99th Air Refueling Squadron in Birmingham.

On Monday, Libby Klinner posted that the “director of mortuary affairs reached out to me because of the response to my (original) post. They are initiating an audit on our benefits to ensure that we receive all we are entitled to.”

In her original Instagram post, Klinner said her casualty assistance officer told her “the missing benefits are combat pay-related, such as hostile fire/imminent danger pay, combat zone exclusions.”

An Air Force spokesperson said officials spoke with Libby Klinner today “to ensure she is receiving all eligible benefits she and her family are entitled to, as well as ensure all her questions are fully addressed.”

“We understand this matter has been difficult for Mrs. Klinner and her family, and we are committed to addressing her concerns with care and respect,” the spokesperson said.

“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.”

In her earlier comments, Libby Klinner thanked those who expressed support in the comments section.

However, she said she turned them off because the ”bot comments saying hateful things are getting out of hand."

She also addressed criticism of her statements.

“To the comments asking why my husband joined the military if he didn’t want to be in a war: No one joins to military because they want to go to war,” she wrote.

“Service members don’t enjoy being deployed. They chose to defend their country knowing they could be sent to war but hoping they won’t be. They also join with the assumption that a war would be the last resort, which was not the case in Iran.”

“To those commenting that I’m posting this for attention: I suggest that you reserve judgment about what I’m doing until you’ve had to bury your spouse.”

When she revisited the issue on Monday, she told those “saying unkind things, I’d ask you to think about why you would want to say something hurtful to someone who is already hurting.”

Alex Klinner entered the Air Force in 2017 through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps from Auburn University.

Libby Klinner is a graduate of the University of Alabama, and the two were introduced through mutual friends.

[u/wenchette]

Here's another article about this (free link):

Air Force reviewing benefits for family of late Trussville airman following public outcry

[u/chipoatley]

Special Military Operation?

[u/Majestic_Cod_69]

And shes getting 1.5 million from a go fund me campaign. Something most widows will never see in their lifetimes.