LA GRULLA, Texas — A National Guard soldier from Rensselaer County who was seriously injured in the crash of a helicopter flying over the U.S.-Mexico border remains hospitalized as of Wednesday.
The three killed Friday in the crash in a field in Texas near Rio Grande City were: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski, 28, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia, 30, both with the New York National Guard; and Border Patrol Agent Chris Luna, 49. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Local officials in Rensselaer County have identified the injured soldier as Jacob Pratt, who is a graduate of Rensselaer High School.
Grassia, a New York State trooper, was from Schenectady, New York, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2013 as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintenance specialist, according to the New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs. The release said that Frankoski, of Rensselaer, New York, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2016 and she trained to become a UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 Lakota helicopter pilot.
The UH-72 Lakota helicopter was assigned to the federal government’s border security mission when it went down while the helicopter was conducting aviation operations, according to a statement released by Joint Task Force North, a military unit that supports Customs and Border Protection. No other details were provided.
The New York State Council of School Superintendents organized a GoFundMe page to help ease the financial strain associated with Pratt’s medical care and recovery. The page was created on Monday and as of early Wednesday morning, the page surpassed its goal of raising $75,000. The page had over $84,000 in donations as of Wednesday.
According to the fundraiser page, Pratt suffered multiple broken bones, including fractures in his back, ribs, leg, and pelvis. While the full extent of his injuries is still being assessed, it is clear that Pratt has a long and arduous road to recovery, organizers of the page said.
“The entire Pratt family humbly ask for your continued thoughts and prayers for their brave son and brother. The outpouring of kindness and concern from both familiar faces and strangers alike has been deeply touching. Kelley, Kenny, and Olivia are by Jacob’s side in Texas, but the uncertainty of the days, weeks, and months ahead weighs heavily upon them,” part of the description on the fundraiser page read.
An update was posted to the GoFundMe page on Tuesday saying Pratt was headed back into surgery Wednesday with the hope of getting him off the ventilator later this week. “Kelley, Kenny, and Olivia want everyone to know how much they appreciate the support, love, and prayers they have received. They are beyond grateful,” the update read.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a recent statement to the Associated Press they are hoping for the injured national guardsman’s “swift recovery,” and said his thoughts and the “deepest condolences” of the department were with the families of those killed.
Officials said Pratt was the aircraft crew chief.
The helicopter that crashed was assigned to the District of Columbia Army National Guard, according to the New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs in a recent news release.
The border region is heavily patrolled by both state and federal authorities, including routine aerial surveillance.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this story.
