Father, Son From Different Services Making A Difference In Afghanistan
(April 17, 2010) |
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Marine 1st Lt. Benjamin Boera, (left) hugs his dad, Brig. Gen. Michael R. Boera,
March 28, 2010, at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Lieutenant Boera is a 5th
Battalion 11th Marines High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Tango Battery
platoon commander. General Boera is the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and
Combined Air Power Transition Force commander. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff
Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez |
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CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (4/13/2010 - AFNS)
-- An Afghan National Army Air Corps C-27A
Spartan cargo aircraft took off from Kabul
International Airport to conduct an
International Security Assistance Force mission
transporting weapons and cargo for Afghanistan
National Police.
At Camp Bastion, Marine 1st Lt. Benjamin Boera,
a 5th Battalion 11th Marines High Mobility
Artillery Rocket System Tango Battery platoon
commander here, watched the cargo plane land. He
swells up with pride because one of the pilots
on the mission is his dad, Brig. Gen. Michael R.
Boera, a Combined Air Power Transition Force
commander and the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing
commander.
As the aircraft taxis on the flight-line,
General Boera greets his son with a wave and a
smile from the cockpit and his son returns the
greeting.
As the doors of the C-27 open, Lieutenant Boera
enters the aircraft and said what he has uttered
a thousand times, "Hey Dad," and his father
answered "How you doing, Ben?" The Boeras are on
the frontlines of transition and kinetic
operations in Afghanistan.
Since September 2009, General Boera has led a
joint and combined organization to mentor, train
and assist Afghan National Security Forces
aviation units. He conducts strategic-level
coordination with U.S. Central Command, NATO
International Security Assistance Force and
Afghan ministries of Defense and Interior
officials to develop the presidential airlift,
battlefield mobility, attack, command and
control, counter-narcotics, police |
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aviation, security and reconnaissance capabilities of the Afghan air forces. |
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Lieutenant Boera, deployed from Marine Corps Base Camp
Pendleton, Calif., in January. His unit has been an active
participant in Operation Moshtarek, a NATO-Afghan joint
offensive involving 15,000 Afghan, Canadian, American and
British troops. His platoon directly supports the 1st Marine
Division and provisional rifle companies with artillery.
But for a few moments it was just a parent catching up with
his boy. The general introduced his son to the aircrew and
they talked. |
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| Marine 1st Lt. Benjamin
Boera, (left) and his dad, Brig. Gen. Michael R.
Boera share a laugh aboard an Afghan National
Army Air Corps C-27A Spartan March 28, 2010, at
Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Lieutenant Boera is a
5th Battalion 11th Marines High Mobility
Artillery Rocket System Tango Battery platoon
commander. General Boera is the 438th Air
Expeditionary Wing and Combined Air Power
Transition Force commander. USAF photo by Staff
Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez |
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"So this is the C-27," Lieutenant Boera said. "Is this the
first operational mission?"
"No, that was a couple of days ago," General Boera said. "We
have an Afghan airman getting his check ride and we are
delivering weapons for some of the Afghan police here."
The Marine lieutenant and the Air Force general drove off to
share some private time, now just father and son.
After spending time together the duo returned to the
flightline to the waiting C-27.
"I am proud of you, keep up the good work and stand tall,"
General Boera said to his son. |
By USAF TSgt. Oshawn Jefferson
U.S. Air Force Central Combat Camera Group
Copyright 2010 | |
Reprinted from
Air Force News Service
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