Bodies Of Service Members Killed In Afghanistan Returned To U.S. Soil
NEW CASTLE, Del. (CBSNewYork) -- The remains of six American soldiers killed in Afghanistan were back on American soil late Wednesday.
As CBS2's Dick Brennan reported, the flag-draped coffins of Technical Sgt. Joseph Lemm – who was also an NYPD detective – and Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa of Suffolk County, landed at New Castle Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware Wednesday afternoon.
It was an emotional farewell at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan for the six service members killed when a Taliban terrorist rode a motorbike into a crowd, and blew himself up.
Bonacasa and Lemm were members of the 105th Base Defense Squadron, which is an element of the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh.
Lemm, 45, was a 15-year veteran of the NYPD, assigned to the Bronx Warrant Squad.
His commanding officer, Capt. William Kivlehan, called Lemm "a heck of a cop.''
"He got a lot of violent guys off the street,'' Kivlehan said in a conference call with reporters. "He got a lot of guns off the street.''
Residents in the area visited the station house to offer their condolences to Lemm's family in blue.
"It hurts, it really does," resident Bill Gately told CBS2's Janelle Burrell. "A police officer protecting the City of New York and protecting us in the country."
Flags were flying at half-staff on New York state government buildings for Lemm.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Lemm "served this nation with the selflessness and bravery that embodies the U.S. Armed forces and the NYPD."
Bonacasa, 31, was serving his fourth military tour after previously serving in Iraq, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Bonacasa was apparently planning on retiring from the armed forces after the end of his deployment, set for April of next year.
When Bonacasa wasn't overseas, he was stationed in Newburgh. He leaves behind a wife and a 5-year-old daughter.
"My brother was a man of integrity," said Bonacasa's brother, Vinny. "He loved what he did. He fought for his country just as hard as he fought for his family. He was a lovely person, and he will truly be missedI'm very proud of him. He'll always be my hero."
Cuomo has ordered flags to fly at half-staff on Thursday in Bonacasa's honor.
"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and fellow servicemen of Staff Sgt. Bonacasa," Cuomo said. "We will join his loved ones in honoring his valor, leadership and service to this great nation. His sacrifice will be remembered with gratitude."
Meanwhile, Air Force Major Adrianna Vorderbruggen was the highest-ranking officer killed in the Monday attack.
"She's a hero, and I hope she's a hero to all of us -- not just to me," said her older brother, Christopher Vorderbruggen.
Christopher Vorderbruggen said his trailblazing sister was charged with protecting the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan.
"She intentionally would go on these patrols with her men, because she wanted to show them that she would do what she was asking them to do," he said.
Adrianna Vorderbruggen was one of the first openly lesbian Air Force officers killed in action. She had long championed the "don't ask, don't tell" policy – a chance that now makes her wife and son eligible for military benefits.
"She inspired us all I think by just being herself, and being proud to be who she was," her brother said.
Staff Sgt. Peter Taub was also killed. His mother runs a Washington, D.C. restaurant that is now closed so she can "mourn this horrible loss."
The attack was the deadliest on Americans in Afghanistan since August. Fifteen other U.S. service members have already been killed in Afghanistan this year.
