Widow's social media post prompts Pentagon to reverse denial of combat benefits for fallen airman

The widow of Major Alex Klinner, killed in a KC-135 crash in Iraq, was initially told he was ineligible for hazard pay and combat tax breaks because the U.S. was not officially at war. After her complaint went viral, Vice President JD Vance promised to look into the case, and the Air Force clarified that his final paycheck would include those benefits. The administration continues to avoid the "war" label for operations against Iran.