Livingston County Resident and Fellow Airmen Mourned

The Livingston County Board of Supervisors Joins The Community In Mourning The Loss Of Livingston County Native, Fellow National Guardsman

Left to Right: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch, Chief Warrant Offcer 5 Steven Skoda

Geneseo, NY, January 22, 2021— The Livingston County Board of Supervisors joins the community in mourning the loss of Livingston County native and New York National Guardsman Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch and fellow guardsmen, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial. They were attached to C Company of the 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion, based at the Army Aviation Support Facility at the Rochester International Airport.  They were conducting training when their UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed on January 20, 2021 in Mendon, New York.

CWO-4 Christian Koch grew up in Livingston County, went to school in York and has deep connections with the surrounding community.   Koch was a 20-year veteran of the New York Army National Guard and became a pilot in 2006. He initially served as an Infantryman in A Company of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. He was a combat veteran serving in Afghanistan from 2012-2013, Iraq in 2008-2009, and served as part of the National Guard security mission, Operation Noble Eagle in 2004 after the attacks of September 11, 2001 and had 2,350 hours flying hours.

For his military service, CWO-4 Koch was awarded the Air Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Forces Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon, Army Parachutist Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Air Assault Badge, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

In addition to his military service Koch was a shining example of community service throughout Livingston County and New York State.  He worked as a civilian Pilot with the New York State Troopers and was instrumental with providing the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter demonstration at the York Central School Veteran’s Day recognition events, in addition to missions with the State Police.

Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Christian’s wife Teressa, their 4 children and the entire Koch family.

We are greatly honored to have received his dedicated service to our nation and to our Livingston County community.  

Posted on January 22, 2021 by . This entry was posted in Death, Livingston County and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.