Rep. Zeldin Statement on 7 Service Members Fallen in the Line of Duty in Iraq, 4 from 106th Rescue Wing

PATCHOGUE, NY - Following the completion of the process of notifying all next of kin, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) released a statement today regarding the seven service members fallen in the line of duty during a helicopter crash in western Iraq on March 15th, including four from the 106th Rescue Wing of Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, located in the First Congressional District, in Westhampton Beach, New York:

“There are no words that fully describe the profound sorrow and immense gratitude that consume our community today. There are no words to describe the emptiness this loss leaves in the heart of every Long Islander. There is, however, no shortage of ways to describe these seven servicemembers - selfless, heroes, patriots, and everything we aspire to be as a people, as a nation, and as Americans.

“These fallen airmen are the best of who we are. They are the embodiment of what makes this country the greatest in the world - the willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our exceptional nation.

“Their families have the unwavering thanks and appreciation of every American across our nation, but most of all they have our utmost respect. In that vein, I ask every member of our community to honor the privacy of each of these families as they go through, undoubtedly, the most difficult moment of their lives.”  

The names of the fallen are as follows:

Captain Andreas B. O'Keeffe, 37, of Center Moriches, New York

Captain Christopher T. Zanetis, 37, of Long Island City, New York

Master Sergeant Christopher J. Raguso, 39, of Commack, New York

Staff Sergeant Dashan J. Briggs, 30, of Port Jefferson Station, New York

Captain Mark K. Weber, 29, of Colorado Springs, Colorado

Master Sergeant William R. Posch, 36, of Indialantic, Florida

Staff Sergeant Carl P. Enis, 31, of Tallahassee, Florida