Body Of NYPD Detective Killed In Afghanistan Returned To NY
NEWBURGH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The body of an NYPD detective who was one of the six U.S. troops killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan last week is being returned to New York.
Members of the New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing, the NYPD and Joseph Lemm's family were the at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh when his remains arrived Monday afternoon aboard one of the air wing's C-17 aircraft.
The 45-year-old Westchester resident was a technical sergeant in the Air Guard's 105th Base Security Squadron and a 15-year veteran of the NYPD. He was killed last Monday when his patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber outside Bagram Air Base.
"Our grief is in the sudden, tragic, violent, seemingly senseless loss of the greatest husband father, son, brother,cousin and friend in the prime of his life," Major John Torres, Air National Guard Chaplain, said at the ceremony. "He really was Superman to all who knew him."
The ceremony was too much for Lemm's wife, Christine, who was led from the hangar sobbing after the ceremony. Lemm's four-year-old son, Ryan, was also weeping openly.
Lemm's body received a police escort from the base, headed for a church in West Harrison, where crews removed Christmas decorations in preparation for the wake on Tuesday, CBS2's Lou Young reported.
Lemm's funeral is set for Wednesday in New York City.
Five other Americans also died, including Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa of Long Island. The 31-year-old from Coram was also a member of the Stewart-based security unit.
Visitation for Bonacasa will be held Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m.-9 p.m. at Branch Funeral Home in Miller Place. Bonacase will be remembered at his funeral this Saturday, 11 a.m., at New Beginnings Christian Center in Coram.
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