Two Guardsmen Killed In Afghanistan Suicide Bombing To Be Named Honorary OSI Agents
By Phillip Swarts, AF Times Staff writer 3:43 p.m. EST December 30, 2015

The six airmen who were killed in a Dec. 21 suicide bomb attack are, clockwise from top left: Maj Adrianna M. Vorderbruggen, SSgt Michael A. Cinco, SSgt Chester J. McBride, TSgt Joseph G. Lemm, SSgt Peter W. Taub, and SSgt Louis M. Bonacasa. (Photo: Air Force photos)

The two New York Air National Guardsmen who died Dec. 21 in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan have been named honorary special agents for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the agency announced Monday.

TSgt Joseph Lemm, 45, and SSgt Louis Bonacasa, 31, died after their patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle near Bagram Air Base. Both were assigned to the 105th Security Forces Squadron, Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York.

Four OSI Special Agents were also killed in the blast: Maj Adrianna Vorderbruggen, 36, and Staff Sergeants Michael Cinco, 28, Peter Taub, 30, and Chester McBride, 30.

On Monday, Brig Gen Keith Givens, the commander of OSI, announced that the two Guardsmen would be made honorary agents.

“In our command's 67 year history, we have selected less than 60 Honorary OSI Special Agents. None of those have been active-duty Security Forces or Air National Guard members,” Givens said. “That has changed today. After consulting with all of OSI's senior leaders, the following ‘Brothers-in-Arms’ members have been made Honorary AFOSI Special Agents.”

Givens added that Lemm and Bonacasa would join OSI’s Hall of Heroes at Quantico, Va., which honors fallen special investigations personnel. Official badges and credentials will be presented to the Guardsmen’s families.

“These two heroes served alongside our Special Agents at Bagram and represent the Tactical Security Element professionals who have teamed up with OSI on our ‘outside-the-wire’ missions for the past five-plus years. They are true defenders and true teammates,” Givens said.

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