NY National Guard returns remains of pilots killed in March 8 helicopter crash to Capitol Region today

LATHAM, NY (03/18/2024) (readMedia)-- The New York National Guard will return the remains of Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski and John Grassia, who were killed in a March 8 helicopter crash in Texas, to the Capital Region this afternoon, Monday, March 18, 2024.

Frankoski, age 28, was a Rensselaer resident. Grassia, age 30, lived in Schenectady.

Members of the press are invited to cover the plane-side honors which will take place at Army Aviation Support Facility #3.

The two aviators were assigned to Detachment 2, A Company, of the 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment which is based at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Latham

WHO: New York National Guard Honor Guard members, New York National Guard leaders, family members of Frankoski and Grassia.

WHAT: Plane-side military honors, as the caskets containing the remains of Frankoski and Grassia are moved from a C-130 Hercules flown by the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing by a New York Army National Guard Honor Guard and moved into hearses provided by W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home Inc., of Rensselaer and Glenville Funeral Home.

Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, will be present.

WHEN: Monday, March 18. Press should arrive no later than 3 p.m. The aircraft is expected to arrive around 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters complex, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham NY.

Members of the press wishing to cover this event MUST call Major Jean Marie Kratzer at 518-786-4581 in order to access this secure military facility and have identification.

Photographs of the two New York Army National Guard pilots provided by the families to the Division of Military and Naval Affairs are available for download on the New York National Guard FLCKR Site here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nyng/albums/72177720315478714/

BACKGROUND: Return of the remains and plane-side military honors.

On Sunday, March 17, a C-130 Hercules transport assigned to the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing, which is based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, New York, flew to Kelly Field, a military facility outside San Antonia, Texas.

An eight-member New York Army National Guard Honor Guard team was on board.

This morning, the remains of Grassia and Frankoski were delivered to Kelly Field from an area funeral home and transferred from the hearses to the C-130 by the Honor Guard Soldiers.

Upon arrival at Army Aviation Support Facility #3 the aircraft will back into position on the flight facility ramp and engines will be shut down.

The families of Grassia and Frankoski will move from the flight facility's heated hanger to an unheated hanger close to the aircraft where they can view the plane-side honors.

When on all is ready on the tarmac and on board the aircraft, the Honor Guard will carry the caskets to the hearses one at a time.

BACKGROUND: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski and John Grassia.

New York Army National Guard helicopter pilots Casey Frankoski and John Grassia were killed on Friday, March 8, when the UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter they were flying crashed near Rio Grande City, Texas at 2:50 p.m. local time.

Border Patrol agent Christoper was also killed in the crash, and the aircraft crew chief, Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Pratt was badly injured and is hospitalized.

The Soldiers who were assigned to Detachment 2, A Company, of the 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment were operating as part of Joint Task Force North, a military unit which supports the Customs and Border Protection operations on the southwest border.The detachment specializes in flying missions in support of civilian agencies.

"These three great Americans died serving our country along our southern border in Texas. In addition, Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Pratt was seriously injured in the crash and is fighting to recover from his life threatening injuries," said Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York.

'"it is hard to imagine the gried and pain their families are feeling. It's impossible to put into words the sorrow and loss of their fellow Soldiers and Border Patrol agents," he said.

Shields and other New York National Guard leaders visited the Soldiers at the border on Wednesday and had the opportunity to visit Paratt and his family.

"The strength and resiience of the Pratt family, of Jacob's weill to live, and the fortitude and dedication to service, and to each othere, of our Soldiers and Boarder Patrol agents was awe inspiring," Shields said.

Twenty-one Soldiers from the Latham-based detachment deployed to Texas in October 2023 to support the federal military mission. They are a little less than halfway through their mission.

They are operating in federal duty status and are not part of the Texas National Guard's Operation Lone Star.

The New York Army National Guard has been flying the UH-72 Lakota helicopter since 2012 and has been deploying UH-72 pilots and support personnel to the southwest border in support of the Border Patrol since 2014.

The aircraft that crashed was not one of the two UH-72s operated by the New York Army National Guard. It was assigned to the District of Columbia Army National Guard.

Frankoski, who is female, joined the New York Army National Guard in 2016. Grassia, has served in the New York Army National Guard since 2012.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey N. Frankoski, age 28 and a resident of Rensselaer, New York, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in October 2016.

She was appointed as a warrant officer in 2019 and trained to become a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot. She was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer 2 in 2021.

She is a graduate of and Columbia High School and Schenectady County Community College with an associate degree in social science.

Frankoski deployed to Kuwait from November 2018 to Sept. 2019 with Detachment 5, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 245th Aviation Regiment as a mission planner. The unit flies the Army's C-12 transport aircraft.

Her military awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Basic Aviator Badge, and the Basic Aviation Badge.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia

Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia, age 30, and a resident of Schenectady, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2013 as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintenance specialist.

He was appointed as a warrant officer in 2019 and trained to as a UH-60 pilot. He was promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 in 2020.Grassia is a 2012 graduate of Schalmont High School in Schenectady.

He deployed to Kuwait with Company A of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion from September 2013 to September 2014. He was also on state active duty from 2020 to 2022 as part of the New York National Guard's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Basic Aviator Badge, and