WARWICK – The street leading up to the Prial house in Warwick is lined with 160 American flags in honor of Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Prial. The 30-year-old Army National Guard helicopter pilot was one of three who were killed in a crash near Rochester this week.
The terrorist attack on 9/11 was “a watershed moment” for Prial, who was in sixth grade, said his father, Greg, as he stood with his wife and Daniel’s mother, Ann, outside their home on Friday.
“If he took a safer job, he may be with us, but he wouldn’t be happy. This is what he wanted to do. He died doing what he loved,” said Prial’s mother, Ann. “He was an American patriot through and through. He loved his country.”
Prial was one of five children who was a diehard Mets’ and Jets’ fan. In fact, he named his dog “Shea” for Shea Stadium.
Prial attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he will be laid to rest.
He served in the Army since 2012 after earning his commission.
Prial served as a medical evacuation platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade.
He deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and 2015 with the 82nd Airborne Division and served as an instructor pilot for students at the Fort Rucker, Alabama, where the Army trains helicopter pilots.
He attained the rank of captain before accepting an appointment as a warrant officer in the New York Army National Guard so he could continue to fly. He was working as a federal technician at the Army Aviation Support Facility at the Rochester International Airport.
He was rated to fly the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and had 670 flying hours.
His awards include the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal and the Army Aviator Badge.
“The release of Chief Warrant Officer Prial’s name brings this tragedy home to Orange County. Members of the military put their lives on the line every day and this accident underscores the dangers and risks that they face. I’m saddened by Daniel’s death and my thoughts and prayers are with his family; we are all appreciative of his and their sacrifice,” said County Executive Steven Neuhaus.
The other two men who died in the crash were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch.
Skoda, 54, was a 35-year veteran of the Army and New York Army National Guard. He was a veteran of the Afghanistan war who deployed there in 2013 and 2019. He was single and lived in Rochester.
Koch, 39, who was married, was a resident of Honeoye Falls. He was a 20-year veteran of the New York Army National Guard. He was a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, serving in Afghanistan from 2012-13 and in Iraq from 2008-09.
The men were assigned to C Company of the 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion based at Rochester International Airport. The unit trains to perform aeromedical evacuation and the crew had been conducting night vision goggle proficiency training in the local training area.
The incident is under investigation.
