Christian Koch was a Chief Warrant Officer 4, who was died in New York Helicopter Crash. Authorities have identified the soldiers killed in the crash.
Thay is National Guard soldiers Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial, according to Col. Richard Goldenberg, public affairs officer for the New York National Guard.
Age
He was 39 years old.
Education
He was a graduate of the State University College at Brockport, became a helicopter pilot in 2006, flying from the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester airport. He was an experienced helicopter pilot, who logged 2,350 flying hours, and served as a senior instructor pilot and instrument flight instructor.
Christian Koch Career
Koch, of Honeoye Falls, was a 20-year veteran of the National Guard, was also a pilot with the New York State Police aviation unit.
Koch, whose title was chief warrant officer 4, initially served as an infantryman in A Company of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. He became a helicopter pilot in 2006, flying from the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester airport.
Koch was veteran of the war in Afghanistan, where he served in 2012 and 2213 and the war in Iraq in 2008 and 2009. He served as part of Operation Noble Eagle, the National Guard security mission in the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in 2004.
He initially served as an infantryman in A Company of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry.
“His hard work and drive lead him to become the senior instructor pilot for the unit,” Goldenberg said. “His motivation and infectious personality made him a great soldier, leader and father”
Wife And Children
He was survived by his wife, Teressa, four children and numerous other relatives.
GoFundMe
Koch’s family has started an online fundraiser to assist his wife and children. In less than a day, more than $35,000 donated by more than 400 people.
