Their Story
Remembering NYNG / US Border Patrol Fallen - March 8th, 2024.
On March 8, 2024, CW2 Casey Frankoski, 28, CW2 John Grassia, 30, and BPA Christopher Luna, 51, tragically passed away when their UH-72A Lakota helicopter crashed while conducting a patrol in La Grulla, TX, in support of border security operations. CW2 Frankoski and CW2 Grassia were assigned to Detachment 2, A Company, 1-224th Aviation Regiment (New York National Guard).
BPA Luna was a Border Patrol Agent with the Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station. At the time of his death, BPA Luna was assigned to the McAllen Air and Marine Branch, Air and Marine Operations, as a Supplemental Aircrew Member.