U.S. Air Force · United States 
Seth R. Koval
Captain
2026
Captain Seth R. Koval served the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing for 20 years. Seth served in the Iran War.
How They Died
Manner
Combat Death
Cause
Multiple traumatic injuries
Circumstance
Killed in action
Place
Iraq
What Happened
Lost with the crew of Zeus 95 when their KC-135 Stratotanker went down over friendly airspace in western Iraq on 12 March 2026, during Operation EPIC FURY. A second tanker was involved in the incident and landed safely. Central Command states the loss was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
Biography
Seth Koval enlisted in May 2006 as a machinist with the 122nd Fighter Wing of the Indiana Air National Guard, and served ten years in that trade. He took a degree in aviation operations at Purdue in 2011, transferred to the Ohio Air National Guard in 2017, and commissioned through the 121st Air Refueling Wing the following year. He completed pilot training in January 2020 and qualified as an instructor pilot in 2024. He was commissioned second lieutenant on 9 November 2018, first lieutenant two years later to the day, and captain on 9 November 2022.
Service Record
U.S. Air Force
KC-135 Instructor Pilot
Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio
2006 – 2026
Instructor pilot, responsible for training pilots for worldwide air refueling, aeromedical, cargo and passenger missions. 2,076 flight hours, 443 of them in combat, on the T-6, T-1 and KC-135. Deployed 2014, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2026 in support of United States Air Forces in Europe, Central Command and Pacific Command, on Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, SPARTAN SHIELD and EPIC FURY, and a Theater Security Package. Aircrew of Zeus 95, the KC-135 lost in western Iraq on 12 March 2026 during Operation EPIC FURY.
Conflicts
Awards & Decorations
11
Campaign and service medals
Air Force Commendation Medal oak leaf cluster ×2
Afghanistan Campaign Medal service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal service star
Armed Forces Reserve Medal hourglass device and two M devices
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal five oak leaf clusters ×6
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01kzghpvj46ypdxa1r411yn7nz
Record added
August 8, 2026
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Last updated
September 11, 2026
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