Services Set For Riverhead Military Hero Killed In Copter Crash

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — The lives of four New York Air National Guard airman from the 106th Rescue Wing who were killed in an Iraq helicopter crash will be honored and mourned as they are laid to rest and remembered at memorials in their hometowns by the many who loved them.

Services are as follows:

Tech. Sgt. Dashan J. Briggs

On Wednesday, March 28, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., visitation will take place for Riverhead native Tech. Sgt. Dashan J. Briggs at the Westhampton Beach Volunteer Fire Department, 92 Sunset Ave, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978.

On Thursday, March 29 at 10 a.m., a funeral service will be held at Westhampton Beach Volunteer Fire Department.

Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.

The Briggs family would like for flowers to be sent to the Westhampton Beach Fire Department on Wednesday morning, March 28. Briggs held the rank of staff sergeant when he passed. He was promoted posthumously to the rank of technical sergeant.

As the community continues to mourn Briggs, the former Riverhead High School athlete who was one of seven killed in a tragic military helicopter crash in Iraq, a GoFundMe has been created to help his family.

The GoFundMe, "In Loving Memory of Dashan Briggs," was created by Andre Galarza in East Meadow.

Master Sgt. Christoper Raguso

Visitation for Master Sgt. Christopher Raguso will take place on Thursday, March 29 and Friday March 30 from 2 p.m.- 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. at the Commack Fire Department, 6309 Jericho Turnpike, Commack, NY 11725.

On Saturday, March 31 at 11 a.m., Raguso’s service will be held at St. Joseph's RC Church, located at 59 Church St. in Kings Park.

Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.

The family would like for any donations to be sent to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundation.

Capt. Andreas O'Keeffe

On Friday, April 6, a funeral mass will be held for Capt. Andreas O'Keeffe in Tampa, FL at Incarnation Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Further details will be announced.

Capt. Christoper T. Zanetis

A celebration of Capt. Christopher T. Zanetis, or "Tripp's," remarkable life will take place on Wednesday, March 28 at Rise Bar at 859 9th Avenue, New York, NY from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On Thursday, March 29 at 11 a.m. there will be a processional ceremony led by the FDNY from Engine 28 Ladder 11 to Washington Square Park. A reception for family and friends at New York University will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: The Fisher House Foundation, The New York Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund, or Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The world is paying tribute to the fallen heroes: Last week, before facing the Blue Jackets, the New York Rangers observed a moment of silence to honor the seven military heroes lost in a tragic helicopter crash in Iraq last week.

Before the game, an announcement was made to the crowd: "Last week, seven service members tragically lost their lives when their helicopter crashed in western Iraq."

Among the victims, the announcer said, were four members of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing based in Westhampton Beach, including "two of New York City's bravest," Christopher T. Zanetis, a 10 year FNDY veteran and Christopher J. Raguso, a 13 year veteran of the FDNY, "who was also a lifelong Rangers fan.

A moment of silence was observed "in honor of these men and their families and to acknowledge all these men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line each and every day."

Also last week, the dignified transfer home of two New York Air National Guard airman killed in an Iraq helicopter crash began.

According to the 106th Rescue Wing's Facebook page, the families of Captain Christopher Zanetis and Master Sergeant Christopher Raguso chose to share the dignified transfer of their loved ones.

The video shows a U.S. Air Force carry team transferring the remains of Capt. Christopher T. Zanetis, of Long Island City and Master Sgt. Christopher J. Raguso, of Commack on Monday at Dover Air Force Base. Del. Zanetis and Raguso were both assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach.

The airmen killed were identified on March 17; three of them were from Long Island and all were assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing.

The airmen were part of a seven-member team who died when the HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter they were flying crashed near the city of Al-Qa'im in western Iraq on Thursday.

There is no evidence of enemy action involved in the crash and the incident is under investigation, according to the Department of Defense.

Killed were:

• Capt. Christopher Zanetis, 37, a resident of Long Island City, who was an HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot. He joined the 106th Rescue Wing in 2008 and was assigned to the wing's 101st Rescue Squadron. Zanetis was a member of the New York City Fire Department in civilian life and had recently joined the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton in New York City as an associate. He previously deployed to Iraq in 2011, supporting another HH-60G squadron, and Afghanistan with the 101st.

• Capt. Andreas O'Keeffe, 37, a resident of Center Moriches, who was an H-60G Pave Hawk pilot. He was a full-time federal civilian employee and an Air Guardsman with the wing's 101st Rescue Squadron. He joined the 106th Rescue Wing in 2013, after serving as an armament systems specialist with the 113th Wing, District of Columbia Air National Guard, and RC-26 pilot with the 174th Attack Wing, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse. He deployed to Iraq three times, and to Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Texas during Hurricane Harvey.

• Master Sgt. Christopher Raguso, 39, of Commack, who was an HH-60G special missions aviation flight engineer. He joined the 106th Rescue Wing in 2001 and was a member of the New York City Fire Department. He was assigned to the wing's 101st Rescue Squadron. He previously deployed to Iraq as a fire protection specialist with the 106th Civil Engineering Squadron, twice to Afghanistan with the 101st, once to the Horn of Africa, and to Texas and the Caribbean for hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

• Staff Sgt. Dashan Briggs, 30, a former Riverhead High School football star who lived in Port Jefferson Station. He was an HH-60G special missions aviation flight engineer. He joined the 106th Rescue Wing in 2010. He was a full time military member with the wing and assigned to the 101st Rescue Squadron. He previously deployed to Afghanistan as a munitions system specialist with the 106th Maintenance Group, and to Texas and the Caribbean for hurricanes Harvey and Irma as a member of the 101st.

"It is with great sadness that I report the loss of four of our wing members," said Col. Michael Bank, the commander of the 106th Rescue Wing.

"All four of these heroes served their nation and community. Our sincerest condolences and sympathies to the families and friends that have been touched by this tragic event," Bank added.

"Our National Guard family mourns the loss of the seven combat search and rescue Airmen in the HH-60 crash, including four members from the 106th Rescue Wing," said Major General Anthony German, the Adjutant General of New York. "This loss reminds us of the tremendous risks we take in serving our nation every day."

"We honor their service, their professionalism, and their sacrifice as we mourn their loss," German added.

The other three heroes killed in the crash were identified as Master Sgt. William R. Posch, 36, of Florida; and Staff Sgt. Carl Enis, 31, of Florida, and Capt. Mark K. Weber, 29, of Colorado.

The 106th Rescue Wing operates the HH-60G Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopter, which is a modified version of the Army's UH-60 Blackhawk. The wing also flies the HC-130 search and rescue version of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, a release said. Airmen from the 106th Rescue Wing have deployed regularly to Afghanistan and Iraq and other areas in support of American and coalition combat missions since Sept. 11, 2001.

They played a key role in evacuating 1,500 Americans from the Dutch Island of St. Maarten following Hurricane Irma.

Patch courtesy photo.

U.S. Air Force video courtesy Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Public Affairs.