Former and current members of the 105th Airlift Wing and 106th Rescue Wing, along with members of the Bonacasa family gathered at Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach on Dec. 31 for a ramp ceremony for staff sergeant Louis Bonacasa.
Bonacasa, 31, was one of six American soldiers killed near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan on Dec. 21 when a suicide bomber laced with explosives drove a motorcycle into their patrol. Several others were injured.
This was Bonacasa’s third tour after spending six months in Iraq in 2011 and six months in Afghanistan in 2013.
He was member of the 105th Base Defense Squadron based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New Windsor since 2010 and before that a member of the 106th Rescue Wing at Gabreski Air National Guard Base from 2008-2010.
After the transfer, his body was taken to Miller Place, several miles from Coram where he was a resident.
Pallbearers from the 105th Airlift Wing carry the casket of Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa Dec. 31, 2015 during a dignified transfer of remains service at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base. Bonacasa was one of the six soldiers killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air National Guard / Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Muncy )
Members of the 105th Airlift Wing Honor Guard wait for a C-17 Globemaster carrying the body of Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa to come to a halt Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 prior to a dignified transfer of remains service at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base. Sergeant Bonacasa was one of the six soldiers killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan (U.S. Air National Gauard / Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Muncy )
Members of the 105th Airlift Wing and 106th Rescue Wing pay their respects during a dignified transfer of Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa, of the 105th Base Defense Squandron, at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, New York on Dec. 31, 2015. Bonacasa was killed in action outside Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on Dec. 21. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by SSgt Julio Olivencia)
Staff. Sgt. Louis Bonacsa's daughter holds her father picture to her chest during a dignified transfer ceremony on Dec. 31, 2015 at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, NY. Bonacasa was killed in action while deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on Dec. 21, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lee Guagenti)
Members of the 105th Airlift Wing and 106th Rescue Wing pay their respects during a dignified transfer of Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa, of the 105th Base Defense Squandron, at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, New York on Dec. 31, 2105. Bonacasa was killed in action outside Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on Dec. 21. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by SSgt Julio Olivencia)
A dignified transfer ceremony for Staff. Sgt. Louis Bonacsa on Dec. 31, 2015 at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, NY. Staff. Sgt. Bonacasa was killed in action while deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on Dec. 21, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lee Guagenti)
