The bodies of two fallen National Guard members from upstate New York returned home Monday.
The remains of 28-year-old Casey Frankoski and 30-year-old John Grassia were escorted home by a New York Army National Guard Honor Guard, aboard a C-130 New York Air National Guard aircraft. They arrived around 3 p.m. at the Army flight facility in Latham, where family, friends, fellow-soldiers and Governor Kathy Hochul were waiting, as was state Assemblymember John McDonald of the 108th district.
"Seeing a military plane flying in, hover over, land. The caskets being carried off. And being placed in the hearse is... Really from my perspective, the most difficult part was, the family members had the opportunity to just touch the casket," McDonald said. "You know, this is when it gets real. And, you know, we also are reminded at least daily, you know, we always hear people like [Albany County Executive] Dan McCoy saying, 'Yeah, I'm gonna be away for guard duty this weekend,' or 'I'm gonna be on assignment for a couple of weeks.' I know many, many individuals that although they minimize it as ‘I'm going to be out of town,’ the reality is, is that at any given time, they can be called to serve. And whenever they're called to serve, there's always a potential danger. So it was a sad moment. It was surreal. And at the same token, as you would expect, family and community come together to support both families during this most difficult time."
Colonel Jason Lefton is a state aviation officer for the New York State Army National Guard. "They're valued team members who are heroes, who tragically lost their lives during their mission. And we're doing everything we can to find out what happened and take care of their families and the rest of our soldiers. Right now. It's a time of hurt, we're looking after each other, and we're doing our best that we can," said Lefton.
Lefton says Frankoski and Grassia were on a "Title 10" mission, accompanied by 49-year-old U.S. Border Patrol agent Chris Luna, when their UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter went down March 8th near the Texas-Mexico border.
"So they were supporting active duty. They were supporting the Customs and Border Patrol, and they're providing capability with their aircraft. That's what they were doing," Lefton said.
Luna was also killed in the crash. Lefton says teams are working to determine the cause. "There's two investigations. One is a safety investigation and one is a they we call it a 15-6, but it's a full investigation. They take anywhere from 30 to 90 days, we'll find out what happens when it's complete."
Lefton says the sole survivor of the crash, guardsman Sergeant Jacob Pratt of Rensselaer, a GlobalFoundries employee, remains hospitalized in Texas. "He's improving. We have soldiers and family members down there Texas looking after him. He's got a long road ahead. But we're glad that he that he's that he's, you know that he's that he's made it so far. And you know, from what I could tell that air crew did everything what they could and he's alive because of it," said Lefton.
Major Jean Marie Kratzer says the coffins were carried from the plane to waiting hearses. "Later this week, there will be funerals and military honors."
Frankoski’s funeral services will be held at The Parish of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Church, on Herrick Street in Rensselaer, at 11 on Friday. Calling hours will be Thursday from 12-5 at the church.
Frankoski's funeral will be livestreamed on YouTube.
Grassia also served as a New York State Trooper, assigned to Troop G in Montgomery County. Calling hours for Grassia will be Monday from 2-7 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Schenectady. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the church the next morning.
Frankoski and Grassia will both be laid to rest at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville.
Luna, a 17-year Border Patrol veteran, was laid to rest last Thursday in his hometown, Edinburg, Texas.
VIDEO: Mourners line the tarmac as the remains of the fallen Capital Region guard members are carried from the C-130 plane to waiting hearses.
