Staff Sergeant Louis Michael Bonacasa

United States Air National Guardsman Staff Sergeant Louis Michael Bonacasa, 31, of Coram, New York, went on to his next life, 21 December 2015, when a cowardly suicide bomber drove his explosive laden motorcycle and detonated himself into the a group of six airmen investigators, in Bagram Afghanistan. As agents and airmen they were conducting a patrol as part of an investigation. His current billet was as security for the special agents of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, which investigates felony-level crimes in the U.S. and overseas. He was assigned to the 105th Security Forces Squadron at Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York, in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

Louis had enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 2002, after graduating from Newman High School. He served at the National Air Guard Guard Base in Westhampton Beach in 2008 before joining the 105th Base Defense Squadron five years ago. He transitioned to the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Security Forces Squadron based out of Francis S. Gabreski Air National. A combat veteran, he had previously served in Iraq, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Louis was the oldest of four siblings. Raquel Bonacasa,his younger sister, spoke with her brother just two days before his death. "He was excited about Christmas, he had received all of our packages and he was excited that he was going to be coming back home, and that his wife would be back home, and they could get a house. He would always try to comfort all of us and anytime we would bring up something to him he would say, 'I'm OK, I'm going to come home, and this is why you are safe because I'm out here and you don't need to worry because I'm going to protect you guys,' he didn't even think in his own mind that he was in any harm."

He promised his family that his fourth tour would be his last. Homecoming was set for April of next year. His younger brother Vincent spoke of how he and his family looked up to Louis and the effect his loss is having. He has remained stoic in the face of this heart rending loss. "He was just going to come home, buy a house, and raise a family. The way that. The way that it should have been," Deborah, his wife and Louis were planning to have another child on his return in four months.

Louis tattooed his love for his young daughter with the image of a battlefield cross in the background. before her birth, in a poem he had written that also told of his willingness to give his life in battle to protect her freedom.tattooed on his rib cage, speaking volumes for the kind of love he had for 5-year-old Liliana.

Daddy's little girl,
The most precious person in my life

I cant wait until that first night
holding you in my hands
now its time to be a man
from your first breath to my last
I'll be there for you any way I can

Your pretty smile will melt my heart
And your sad cries will always tear me apart
Daddy will be there to wipe away your tears
And there to protect you from all your fears
Your sweet little laugh will be music to my ears

A beautiful gift from God to watch you grow through the years
There will be times when daddy is not around
He will be somewhere with his boots on the ground
There so at home everyone is safe and sound

When daddy is gone baby please don't cry
Because for your freedom my baby girl
Daddy will die heart emoticon

Ordering flags to be flown half masted, Governor Andrew Cuomo released the following statement: "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and fellow servicemen of Staff Sergeant Louis Michael Bonacasa. We will join his loved ones in honoring his valor, leadership and service to this great nation. His sacrifice will be remembered with gratitude."

Brigadier General David Julazadeh, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, told his Airmen in a memorial service for the fallen six brothers and sister in arms, “This was a tragic loss for our Air Force family and all our mission partners here in Afghanistan. These amazing Airmen significantly improved the safety and security of US and Coalition forces across the country. I ask you to keep these heroes and their families in your thoughts through this holiday season.”

Brigadier General Keith Givens, OSI commander further remarked; "The deaths of the four OSI agents make Monday's attack the deadliest day in our command's history."

"Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of those affected in this tragic incident, especially during this holiday season," Army Brig. Gen. William Shoffner, a spokesman for NATO's Resolute Support mission in Kabul, said in a statement.

In his released remarks, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter called the attack "a painful reminder of the dangers our troops face every day in Afghanistan."

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest on international forces there since August. Bagram, around 40 km (25 miles) north of Kabul, is one of the main bases for the remaining 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

The suicide attack came just a few days shy of the one-year anniversary of the United States and NATO formally ending their combat mission in the country.