OSI names two Honorary Special Agents

  • Published
  • By Air Force OSI Public Affairs
QUANTICO, Va. --  The Air Force Office of Special Investigations Commander Brig. Gen. Keith M. Givens announced today that two Air National Guardsmen have been made Honorary Air Force Office of Special Investigations Special Agents.

On Dec. 22, the Department of Defense announced the deaths of six Airmen who were supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel. They died Dec. 21 of wounds sustained when their patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber on a motorcycle near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

"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," said Brig. Gen. Keith M. Givens, OSI Commander. "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 said.

The two Security Forces members killed with the four OSI Special Agents in the Afghanistan attack were: Tech. Sgt. Joseph G. Lemm, 45, of The Bronx, New York City, N.Y. He was assigned to the 105th Security Forces Squadron, Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y.; and, Staff Sgt. Louis M. Bonacasa, 31, of Coram, N.Y. He was also assigned to the 105th Security Forces Squadron.

"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," said Brig. Gen. Givens. 

Tech. Sgt. Lemm and Staff Sgt. Bonocasa will also join OSI's Hall of Heroes - a permanent memorial tribute to OSI's Fallen Heroes - located at OSI's Headquarters in Quantico, Va.   

The OSI badge and credentials will be presented to the family members of Tech. Sgt. Joseph Lemm and Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa in the near future. 

For more information about OSI Special Agents assigned to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, media may contact the AFOSI Public Affairs Office at 240-460-1633. For more information about Airmen assigned to the New York Air National Guard, media may contact the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Public Affairs Office at 518-786-4581.