GoFundMe Created After Loss Of Hero Airman In Iraq Copter Crash

CENTER MORICHES, NY — After a tragic helicopter crash took the lives of four airman from the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing, a GoFundMe has been created to help the heartbroken girlfriend left behind, grieving the loss of Capt. Andreas O'Keeffe of Center Moriches.

"On March 15, 2018 . . . Capt. Andreas O'Keeffe was serving as the co-pilot on Jolly 51 and HH-60 combat search and rescue helicopter, which crashed while performing patrol duties along the Iraq-Syria border," the page, "In Memory of Capt. Andreas O'Keeffe," said. To donate, click here.

"'Andy,' as he was affectionately known by family and friends, was a decorated patriot and a true American hero, having deployed to Iraq three times as well as Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Texas in support of flood victims during Hurricane Harvey," the page said.

Capt. O'Keeffe is survived by his loving parents Maryann and Shan O'Keeffe of Florida, as well as a sister Bernadette and a brother Shan — a hero in his own right who serves as an F-16 pilot with the United States Air Force, the page said.

"In addition, Capt. O'Keeffe leaves behind a grieving and heartbroken Allison Denniston of Center Moriches, NY," the page said. "Andy and his longtime girlfriend Allison shared a home together for several years. Because of their circumstance, Allison is not entitled to any of the benefits shared by his deserving comrades who perished alongside him. The effect on Allison, however, has been no less debilitating and she is grief-stricken at the sudden loss of Andy.

We can never replace the love and companionship that Allison and Andy shared in their Center Moriches home, but perhaps we can ease the burden of the sudden financial loss that she will endure."

All donations will go directly to Denniston, to help her rebuild her life and alleviate some of the financial stress of her unthinkable loss, the page said.

In addition, a funeral mass for Major Andreas O’Keeffe will be held on Friday, April 6, at 11 a.m. at Incarnation Catholic Church, located at 8220 W. Hillsborough Ave, in Tampa, FL 33615.

The church will be open at 10 a.m. for a brief period to stand or kneel and say good-bye next to Andreas' casket.

There will be a reception to follow mass at Mary Ann and Shán's home for all friends and family.

For those who wish to send flowers, the church will accept them only the morning of the service. If sending flowers the day prior, they can be sent to Blount & Curry Funeral Home, at the Oldsmar/West Hillsborough Chapel location, and they have arranged for a flower van to bring them to the church on the morning of the service. If looking for suggestions in lieu of flowers, a donation to USO, or the Friends of the Fallen, or the That Others May Live Foundation was suggested.

There will also be a military memorial service with honors on Aug. 3 on or near Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, with details provided at the funeral. Funeral information was provided by Major O'Keeffe's brother Lt. Col. Shán Patrick O’Keeffe.

The lives of all four New York Air National Guard airman from the 106th Rescue Wing who were killed in an Iraq helicopter crash have been honored and mourned as they have been laid to rest and remembered at memorials in their hometowns by the many who loved them.

The world is paying tribute to the fallen heroes: Recently, 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."

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.

Photo courtesy GoFundMe.