Father of fallen service member says he did not tell Pete Hegseth to 'finish' the job

Charles Simmons, whose son Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons died in a recent refueling plane crash, said he did not tell Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to 'finish' the job; Hegseth had said families told him that message after private meetings at Dover Air Force Base.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he heard family members of six fallen service members urge officials to "finish the job" after private meetings at Dover Air Force Base. One father at Dover, Charles Simmons, whose 28-year-old son Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons was among those killed in a recent refueling plane crash, told NBC News he did not tell Hegseth that. Simmons said his conversations with Hegseth and President Donald Trump were personal and focused on his son. The differing recollections drew attention because they relate to public comments made by senior officials. Key details: - Hegseth said in a briefing that families he met told him, "Finish this. Honor their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done." - Charles Simmons told NBC News he did not say that to Hegseth and described speaking mainly about his son's service and character. - The meetings took place during dignified transfer events at Dover Air Force Base where families receive the remains of service members. - A Pentagon spokesman said Hegseth respects Gold Star families and that the details of individual conversations remain private. - White House statements said President Trump expressed grief and gratitude to the families; a public official who overheard a separate meeting said they did not hear families telling Trump to "finish the job." Summary: The article reports differing accounts between a Defense Department official and at least one grieving father about whether families urged officials to "finish the job." Undetermined at this time.