The father of a U.S. airman who tragically perished in a military crash in Iraq earlier this month has shared his son’s poignant final words. Mylo Simmons recounted that his son, Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, expressed a foreboding sense of finality in a phone call just hours before the incident. “Dad, I don’t think I’m coming back from this,” Tyler had confided. In an emotional interview aired on Monday night, Mylo painted a vivid picture of this heartrending conversation with his son. “He was very calm, told me how much he loved me,” Mylo shared with CNN. “He asked me to tell his dog, Grayson, that he loved him… and he was very insightful.” Despite the looming tragedy, Tyler remained composed. “Unfortunately, he did tell me he didn’t think he was coming back,” Mylo revealed. “And I told him, ‘I’m praying for you.'”
Beyond the Mission
Just hours after this conversation, 28-year-old Tyler was among six U.S. service members who lost their lives when a KC-135 refueling aircraft went down over western Iraq during a mission. The U.S. Central Command reported that the crash occurred in “friendly airspace” and followed an unspecified incident involving another aircraft, which landed safely. The cause is still under investigation, and it has been confirmed that the crash was not due to hostile or friendly fire. Despite the overwhelming grief, Mylo managed to remain composed during the interview, drawing strength from his faith and the fact that his son died while fulfilling his passion. “I am a man of faith. Tyler was a man of faith,” he stated. “I was hoping he was wrong, but the solace I have is that he died doing what he loved.” Mylo added, “I always told him, ‘Live life with no regrets.’ Knowing Tyler, he would probably make the same decision because he loved what he did.”
From Boom Operator to the Cockpit
Reflecting on his son’s life, Mylo shared, “Obviously, no one wants to die, and no one saw this coming, but Tyler was an amazing son. It was my privilege to be his father.” Tyler’s life revolved around his passion for aviation. He was a young man driven by a clear purpose, having long aspired to become a boom operator—the vital role responsible for refueling aircraft mid-air. His ultimate goal was to transition into a career as a commercial pilot. “In countless conversations, he dreamed of being the boom operator, which he achieved,” Mylo recalled. “He wanted to retire as a boom operator and then become a commercial pilot—he was very driven.” Mylo concluded, “I often told him, ‘Don’t just talk about it, be about it.’ That’s exactly what he did.”
Simmons, an Eastmoor Academy graduate from Columbus, was one of several National Guard airmen aboard the doomed aircraft. His mother, Cheryl Simmons, previously described the moment uniformed officers arrived at their home to deliver the devastating news. ‘When he opened the door, he said, “Oh no,” and I jumped up and ran in there and they were lined up out on the porch,’ she said. ‘You got to be kidding me.’ She broke down in tears as she recounted the moment her only child was taken from her. Other family members have also remembered him as loving, driven, and deeply devoted to those around him. ‘He loved his dog Grayson, he loved his family, his friends,’ one relative said. ‘He’s just that guy. He would do anything for you.’
A cousin recalled his unmistakable presence: a ‘million dollar smile’ that lit up every room he entered. Public officials in Ohio have also paid tribute. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said Simmons ‘proudly served’ his country, while state leaders described him and the other fallen airmen as heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. The 121st Air Refueling Wing, to which Simmons belonged, said in a statement: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we share the tragic news of the passing of three Airmen from the 121st Air Refueling Wing. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and fellow Airmen who mourn their loss.’
