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Widow of Alabama airman killed in ‘illegal’ Iran war pens emotional election day message
AL.com ^ | Nov 3, 2026 | Patrick Darrington

Posted on 11/08/2026 2:39:09 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege

The widow of Alex Klinner, the Alabama airman killed in combat operations in Iran in March, said she voted Tuesday for Doug Jones and other candidates Alex “would have supported.”

"Alex struggled serving under an administration that so blatantly views our military members as expendable. And I hate that he died because of it."


(Excerpt) Read more at al.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: alexklinner; groypers; iranwar; jihadistsonfr; military; tds; veterans
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1 posted on 11/08/2026 2:39:09 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

The USA has not had a declared war since World War II. Does this mean that no survivors of service members killed in our combat operations have gotten what survivors of people who die in a declared war get?


2 posted on 11/08/2026 2:46:19 PM PST by Freee-dame (The left never dreamed that Trump would be back in the White House in 2025. )
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Well, Alex was ignorant if he thought that President Trump viewed the military as expenable. He is the only president in recent history that loved the military.


3 posted on 11/08/2026 2:46:28 PM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Hmmmmm! I signed the blank check in August 1967. Thankfully it wasn’t cashed but I knew the possibility was there. RIP young man.


4 posted on 11/08/2026 2:47:50 PM PST by rktman (Patriotism not 'hateriotism' !. Enlisted USN 1967 proudly. 🇺🇸)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

What exactly is she looking for ? The reason I ask is the website requires a subscription .

Service members, make sure your Page 2 is updated !


5 posted on 11/08/2026 2:51:03 PM PST by OldHarbor
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
Haven't heard from you for a while.

How are things over in Iran?

Did you enjoy watching the flogging of the women who dared to go in public without a slave scarf?

6 posted on 11/08/2026 3:05:51 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (I just want FReepers to READ THE ARTICLE. And then think 30 secs before pounding keyboard.)
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To: Freee-dame

What is she looking for?

Why didn’t they have a life insurance policy?

Was he conscripted? Or did he volunteer?

Is it an illegal operation? Who says?


7 posted on 11/08/2026 3:13:11 PM PST by stanne
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
"Alex struggled serving under an administration that so blatantly views our military members as expendable."

He knew his life was expendable when he signed up. There are no guarantees when you enlist in the military of this country. Did she and her husband complain when Biden murdered of 13 Marines in the idiotic, and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan?

8 posted on 11/08/2026 3:18:38 PM PST by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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For any SGLI questions.

It looks like it has changed somewhat since I was in, so here’s a link to VA’s website.

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)

For reference only , I do not know what her beef with DOW is since I can’t access the article .

9 posted on 11/08/2026 3:26:40 PM PST by OldHarbor
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
This is a damn lie!

I'm from Alabama, retired Air Force, and I know what really happened.

From AI:

Major John “Alex” Klinner was killed on March 12, 2026, when his KC-135 crashed in western Iraq while supporting Operation Epic Fury. The Air Force officially classifies him among six airmen who died supporting that operation.

His widow, Libby Klinner, said the Air Force told her that she and their children were ineligible for some benefits because Congress had not officially declared war. She later clarified that the missing items were combat-pay-related amounts absent from his final paycheck, not that the family had been denied every ordinary survivor benefit.

After her account attracted attention:

The Air Force contacted her and began auditing the family's benefits.
A Pentagon official said officials had contacted her to confirm the family received “all of the entitlements they are owed.” However, that statement did not establish whether the disputed combat-related amounts had actually been paid.
Independent fact-checkers could not review the underlying Air Force correspondence, so they could not conclusively verify that the absence of a formal declaration of war was legally the reason for the missing payments.

So the fairest answer is: his family did report being denied certain combat-related compensation, apparently because the operation was not formally classified as a declared war. They were not reportedly stripped of all death and survivor benefits, and the Air Force subsequently reviewed the case.

His widow got the benefits.

To Major Klinner and his grieving widow I say:

To everyone else, AL.Com is run by a vicious democrat supporting liar and friend of Mark Elias, democrat lawyer henchman.

10 posted on 11/08/2026 3:27:27 PM PST by Alas Babylon! (The greatest power the media has is the power to ignore.)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

The AF casualty assistance officer gave her bad information.

How Benefits Work

No Declaration Required: Major military survivor and death benefits do not require a formal, congressional declaration of war. The U.S. has not officially declared war since World War II, yet survivor benefits have routinely applied to conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other operations.

Guaranteed Survivor Benefits: Active-duty death benefits—such as the $100,000 military death gratuity, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) payouts up to $500,000, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and survivor housing allowances—pay out for active-duty or service-connected deaths regardless of whether a formal war has been declared.

Where the Confusion Started

The Klinner Case: Controversy arose following the death of U.S. Air Force Major Alex Klinner, who was killed in a March aircraft crash in Iraq supporting operations connected to Iran. His widow, Libby Klinner, was initially told by a casualty assistance officer that certain combat-related benefits might be affected because the operation was not technically classified as a war.

The Air Force later clarified that she received inaccurate information and that active-duty death entitlements, hazard pay, and tax considerations were not legally dependent on a formal war declaration.


11 posted on 11/08/2026 3:32:17 PM PST by DugwayDuke (Most pick the expert who says the things they agree with.)
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To: Robert DeLong

I think that George W. Bush, for all his failings in other areas, genuinely loves the US military. When that Muslim killed 13 service members at that base in Texas, GWB immediately went there to visit the ones who had been wounded.


12 posted on 11/08/2026 4:08:36 PM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

This was a tragedy for sure, but it is part of the risk that service members agree to. EVERYONE who signs on the dotted line and then raises their right hand to swear the oath of enlistment, knows exactly what the risks are. You can’t complain after the fact.


13 posted on 11/08/2026 4:34:20 PM PST by rottndog (250 years...will we make it to 300?)
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To: DugwayDuke

“ was initially told by a casualty assistance officer that certain combat-related benefits might be affected because the operation was not technically classified as a war.”

I hope she was not told this by someone who had “ casualty assistance officer”. as an official job. If it was someone who did not have that as an official job, but just answered the phone, they should have said something like. …. I will have someone call you back who is fully informed.

She seems to have made this political. I’m very sorry for her loss and hope that Trump does not verbally attack her in any way. His policies are great but he makes so many enemies. When he insults fat people, low IQ people, etc. , he does not seem to realize that millions of people fall into these categories and do not appreciate the attacks. He does not need to alienate spouses of our military who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.


14 posted on 11/08/2026 4:58:35 PM PST by Freee-dame (The left never dreamed that Trump would be back in the White House in 2025. )
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To: rktman

Thank you
And bless you


15 posted on 11/08/2026 4:58:46 PM PST by RWGinger
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To: Verginius Rufus

That’s one good thing Bush Jr did.


16 posted on 11/08/2026 5:10:47 PM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Attention Whore dishonor ing her husband.


17 posted on 11/08/2026 5:57:26 PM PST by Feckless (The US Gubbmint / This TagliCanne CENSORED by FR \ IrOnic, ain't it?)
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To: RWGinger

You’re welcome. My privilege. Long line in the family.


18 posted on 11/08/2026 6:08:10 PM PST by rktman (Patriotism not 'hateriotism' !. Enlisted USN 1967 proudly. 🇺🇸)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

I am sorry for her loss, but as far as I know Trump honored fallen military, didnt stand there checking his watch like someone else did. He also didnt say things like “at this point what difference does it make”. I suppose she voted in recent election for the ones who most likely will encourage more terrorism on our own soil?


19 posted on 11/08/2026 6:29:52 PM PST by b4me (Pray, and let God change you. He knows better than you or anyone else, who He made you to be.)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Rats.

You’re back.

It was almost rational for a few months.


20 posted on 11/09/2026 1:19:52 PM PST by Uncle Miltie (When your Supreme Leader is easily whacked by Jews, reconsider how Akhbar your Allah is!)
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