Iraq -- Lance Cpl. William Boone, a mortar man with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment had a rare opportunity to spend a few days with his father, Army Maj. Richard R. Boone while serving in a combat zone.
William was greeted by his father during a short visit here to see his son during their tenure in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“It’s rough on my mother having us both out here, but its neat being here with my father,” the Gallipolis, Ohio, native explained.
William and Richard left on their deployments within a week of each other. Five months into William’s deployment he found out he was going to be visited by his father. When his father arrived William’s command gave him a few patrols off to spend time with him.
“I took advantage of the time we had, because I haven’t seen my father for five months and I won’t see him for at least another six months or more,” the 2003 Gallia Academy High School graduate explained.
He spent his time off with his father going on runs and just hanging out and exchanging stories. They talked about work and home and how things have been going for their deployments.
“It was like being home and being able to just kick back and relax with my father,” William explained.
The Boone men are not strangers to being away from home or in a combat zone. William is on his second deployment with the battalion, having previously being in Haiti during Operation Secure Tomorrow. Richard is on his second deployment to Iraq, having previously served in the opening of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, working with the 883rd Medical Company.
“I am very proud of my son’s willingness to serve his country and of his belief in the essential goodness of America’s motives and hopes,” Richard said.
William has always had a military presence in his family growing up and always wanted to join the military. His grandfather is a World War II veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor and his father followed the footsteps left for him. His brother is also in JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
“I have always wanted to be in the military and having the history in the family was definitely part of me being here,” Boone explained.
Throughout the Corps, there is a family bond between the Marines, but for Boone and his father, there is truly a family connection in the military service they’re providing while fighting in the Global War on Terrorism during Operation Iraqi Freedom.