US airman died fighting Iran. Pentagon refuses payout because 'it isn't a war'

The United States is fighting a war that the White House does not want to call a war. For the family of an American service member killed in the fighting with Iran, that distinction has become more than a matter of words.Major Alex Klinner, 33, was killed while aboard a KC-135 refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq as it supported US strikes against Iran. Months later, his widow, Libby Klinner, said she was initially told that the absence of a formal congressional declaration of war could affect the benefits owed to her.WHY DOES THE WORD 'WAR' MATTER?Klinner raised the issue publicly in an Instagram post that quickly drew national attention. She said she was frustrated that her husband had lost his life while supporting US military operations, yet she was being told the absence of a formal declaration of war could affect what his family was entitled to receive."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." The Air Force later contacted Klinner and reviewed her husband's final pay. Officials acknowledged that she had initially been given inaccurate information.The service clarified that Klinner's final paycheque had included combat-related hazard pay and tax benefits. The payment commonly known as "combat pay" is $225 a month and does not require Congress to formally declare a war. Instead, eligibility is linked to serving in areas where troops face a grave danger of physical injury or hostile fire. The problem, officials said, was that the payment had been included but incorrectly itemised on her husband’s final paycheque. The dispute has exposed the confusion surrounding how the US government is describing its military operations against Iran. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to the fighting as a war, but Vice President JD Vance has not confirmed that description.Asked about Klinner's case at a White House briefing on Thursday, Vance said: "We want to be as helpful as we can and ensure she gets everything that she is entitled to.""My message to her would be, 'We love you, we're grateful for the sacrifice and we very much take very seriously our commitment to get you what you need to get.'"Vance separately said there was "no active shooting" and argued that the word war was not appropriate for the current US operations.Trump backed that position the following day, describing the strikes as "intermittent"."A lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict, because it's small potatoes for us," he said.HOW ARE MILITARY CASUALTIES BEING CLASSIFIED?The administration's terminology has also affected how casualties are recorded. In late July, the Pentagon created a separate category for US service members killed or wounded in the renewed fighting with Iran. Officials said the change was necessary because the earlier combat operation "Operation Epic Fury" had ended.Since July 7, US casualties in the Middle East have been recorded under the broader category of "Overseas Operations".According to reports, families of US service memeber have also accused the Pentagon of downplaying the severity of some injuries and said wounded troops were not always being treated as combat casualties. The Army has denied those claims.Military officials have generally been slow to disclose injury figures, particularly when service members return to duty quickly.WHAT DOES KLINNER WANT CHANGED?Klinner said the experience showed how difficult it can be for grieving families to understand military classifications and benefits at a time when they are least prepared to deal with government bureaucracy."What this experience made clear to me is how difficult it can be for a grieving family to navigate classifications, terminology and government processes at the very moment we are least equipped to do so," Klinner said in a statement."No Gold Star family should have to become an expert in government language to understand what they are entitled to. Alex understood the risks that came with his service, and he trusted that if the worst happened, his family would be taken care of."She said she wanted the focus to remain on ensuring other military families receive clear information from the beginning."I want the conversation to focus on making sure every family facing an unimaginable loss has that same clarity from the start," Klinner said. "Getting this right for the families left behind isn't a footnote – it’s part of how we honour the service and sacrifice of those we lost."Trump has met some relatives of US service members killed in the conflict, including the parents of Lt Tyler James Feehan, 25.- EndsWith inputs from agenciesPublished By: Satyam SinghPublished On: Sep 7, 2026 20:03 IST