Supporters Raise Scholarship Funds For Children Of Fallen Airmen

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — The 106th Rescue Wing Alumni Association is reaching out to raise funds for the children of two of the four heroes from the NY Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing who died when their helicopter crashed in Iraq in March.

A GoFundMe, "Friends of the 101 Rescue Squadron," was created by Robert Landseidel of Hampton Bays.

Funds raised will benefit scholarships for the children of Master Sgt. Christopher Raguso, 39, of Commack, and Tech. Sgt. Dashan Briggs, 30, who were among the seven killed when their HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopter crashed near the city of Al-Qa'im.

The scholarship presentation and a wing mission briefing and tour at the base will take place on Oct. 18.

Also killed were Capt. Christopher Zanetis, 37, a resident of Long Island City, who was an HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot and Capt. Andreas O'Keeffe, 37, a resident of Center Moriches, who was an HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot.

Tech. Sgt. Briggs, a former Riverhead High School football star who lived in Port Jefferson Station, 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.

Master Sgt. Raguso, of Commack, 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.

Briggs left behind his heartbroken wife Rebecca Briggs and small children Jayden and Ava; Raguso, his wife Carmela and young girls Mila and Eva.

To donate, click here.

Related:

• 4 National Guard Airmen Killed In Iraq Helicopter Crash ID'd
• Mourning A Hero: Airman Killed In Copter Crash Laid To Rest
• Town To Dedicate Street To Hero Airman Killed In Copter Crash
• Lt. Chris Raguso First To Be Inducted To Heroes Hills Memorial
• Part Of Jericho Turnpike To Be Renamed For Hero Airman

Patch courtesy photos.