Father of Killed US Military Member Disputes Hegseth's Claim on Iran War Support
In a striking contradiction, the father of a US military member killed in the Iran war has publicly denied Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's assertion that bereaved families urged him to "finish" the job in the Middle East. This dispute emerged following a Pentagon briefing where Hegseth detailed conversations with relatives of service members who died in a recent refueling tanker crash.
Hegseth's Account of Family Conversations
Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary and former Fox News host, told reporters at a Thursday briefing that he spoke with relatives of all six service members killed in last week's crash during a "dignified transfer" of remains at Dover Air Force Station. He claimed that through tears and hugs, family after family expressed a unified message: "Finish this. Honor their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done."
Charles Simmons' Contradiction
However, Charles Simmons, father of Tech Sgt Tyler Simmons from Ohio, refuted this account in an interview with NBC News on Thursday night. Simmons stated he had no such conversation with Hegseth, emphasizing, "I can't speak for the other families. When he spoke to me, that was not something we talked about." He described separate meetings with Hegseth and former President Donald Trump at the military base, appreciating the "warmth" shown but recounting a different dialogue focused on the necessity of decisions rather than urging continued conflict.
Family Unease Over Iran War
Charles Simmons is at least the third family member to voice concerns about Operation Epic Fury, the White House's term for the Iran war, or the Trump administration's handling of it. Stephan Douglas, cousin of Tyler Simmons, called the conflict "unnecessary" in a weekend interview, while Bernice Smith, Simmons' grandmother, criticized the war as unjust and encouraged voter registration for change. These statements highlight growing dissent among Gold Star families regarding US military involvement in Iran.
Pentagon and White House Responses
In response, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended Hegseth, stating that conversations with relatives were "private" despite being highlighted in the press conference. Parnell insisted Hegseth respects Gold Star families and honors their sacrifices. Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Olivia Wales noted that Trump "grieved" with families at Dover, expressing national gratitude for their service. Earlier this month, Trump acknowledged expectations of more US military deaths in the conflict, underscoring the ongoing toll of Operation Epic Fury.
