User:Johanbus/Nanta ee

Nanta ee or Johancharles “Chuck” Van Boers  (born May 30, 1964) is a Lipan War Chief, a U.S. Army Master Sergeant, an accomplished still photographer (5), and an artist. Boers comes from a long line of military veterans, his family has served in every war since World War I and some have acted as Army Scouts in the late 1800s. Growing up as an urban Indian in Fresno, California, he was fortunate to have many Native American Indian mentors to help guide him early on in life. In 1982, his mother, a Sergeant First Class and an Army Recruiter, persuaded him to enlisted. Fortuitously he was assigned to the same basic training camp and unit as her. With more than 26 years of service and a recipient of two Bronze Stars and three Purple Heart medals, Boers has been on five tours to the Middle East, two tours to Haiti, two tours to Bosnia, and one tour each to Kosovo, Panama, and Grenada. While on leave from his last tour in Iraq, he attended the annual Inter-tribal New Year’s Eve Pow Wow in Fresno, California in 2007 where Lipan Tribal Chairman Daniel Castro Romero called Boers to the center of the Pow Wow arena for a blessing and cleansing ceremony. With his mother and daughter in a place of honor, Chairman Romero renamed Boers “Nanta ee” and bestowed upon him the title of Lipan War Chief. The last know Lipan War Chief died in the 1930’s and Boers is the only know Native American War Chief currently serving on active duty for all the U.S. military services.

Contents

 * 1. Early Life, Military Service, and Family
 * 2. Military Career
 * 2.1 Dates of Ranks
 * 2.2 Awards and Decorations
 * 2.2.1 Badges
 * 2.2.2 Military Medals and Ribbons
 * 2.2.3 Unit Awards
 * 2.2.4 Foreign Decorations
 * 3. Education
 * 4. External Links
 * 5. References

Early Life, Military Service, and Family
Nanta ee or Johancharles “Chuck” Van Boers was born on May 30, 1964 in Fresno, California. His father was Johan Van Boers who immigrated to the United States of America with his parents from the Netherlands after World War II. His mother is Virginia Lee Davis is Lipan, Apache and Western Band Cherokee. His parents divorced early on in his childhood. While growing up Boers learned about his Apache culture from his grandfather (Darrell D. Davis) who was from Bownwood, Texas, and his Cherokee culture from his grandmother (Emily B. Forest) who was from Spavinaw, Oklahoma. Although his family was from Texas and Oklahoma, he grew up primarily in California. “One might think being so far away from our tribal roots that we would lose touch of who we are, but that was not the case. My Grandparents showed and shared with me and my sisters the richness and vibrancy of our culture,” said Boers.

Nonetheless, it was not always easy growing up as an urban Indian, never really fitting in the red or white worlds. It was Boers’ family and other Indian friends who helped him accept life in both worlds. He credits Betty Coulter (Cherokee), Ron Goode (Mono), and other Title IV (Indian Education Act) Native counselors with helping him get through his teenage years.

What stands out were the Pow Wows, the Tribal ceremonies, and Title IV events that he attended. “My favorite part of the Pow Wow was Grand Entry when the Veterans would bring in the Colors and then afterwards they would do an honor dance,” Boers says. I was taught that we always welcome home our warriors with songs and dances, and my thoughts always turned towards my parents, uncles, and my other relatives who had served in the military. I was proud of them and of the sacrifices that they had made for all of us.”

They day Boers graduated from high school and received his diploma he was on top of the world, he says. What they day more special and memorable, however, was the fact that his Title IV counselor Betty Coulter gave him his first eagle feather, telling him she was proud of the young man that he had become and that the feather would keep him safe while he was in the Army. “I have carried that eagle feather with me all over the word - on deployments, on peacekeeping missions, into combat, and one day after I retire,” he says, “I will pass that eagle feather onto the next young warrior.”

Boers joined the Army in August 1982, just before the start of his senior year of high school. His recruiter was his mother, Virginia, a Sergeant First Class who spent 11 of her 20 years in the Army as a recruiter. “The joke in the family was that my Mother was low on her recruiting numbers that month and needed to put me in the Army in order to make her number….,”Boers says, adding:

In truth I have always looked up to my parents and my other relatives who have served in the military. In fact, our family has served in every war the United States has had since World War I. We even have had family serve as Army scouts in the late 1800s. I wouldn’t call us patriotic, but we are proud to serve our people and protect our way of life. I knew I wanted to be part of that world. It is part of our culture to be warriors.

Boers’ mother did not see herself as a warrior, but did she the Army as a unique opportunity for a woman. “It opened a lot doors for me, she says. “Back then there weren’t a whole lot of jobs for a woman that paid as good as the military and taught you a skill at the same time. While in the WACs I was in the transportation and administration corps, but my last eleven years I was an Army recruiter. I was proud and pleased that Chuck was continuing our family and tribal tradition - to serve in the military.”

Virginia the oldest of five children, had four brothers, all of them followed her into the Army. Three were combat medics and one served in the Air Defense Artillery. One served two tours in Vietnam as a Special Forces medic, then was recalled to served during Desert Storm. As if a 20-year military career was not challenge enough she also had six children of her own and raised another one as well.

Boers thanks his mother not only for getting him into the Army but also for helping him make it through boot camp. As luck would have it. He was assigned to the same camp and the same unit his mother had been assigned to when she went through basic training - Fort McCullen, Alabama, Third Platoon, Delta Company, Second Battalion. “When the training got tough, I would tell myself - ‘If my Mom, who is less than 5 feet tall did this, so can I; It was like she was their pushing me all through basic training. I used to wonder about the odds of going through basic training in the same unit as my mother and living in the same barrack she had lived in so many years ago. My mother…I felt that it would give us a different kind of bond, not only as mother and son, but also as Soldiers. My Grandmother had always told me the Creator had a plan and a reason for everything that happens. We may not understand it at the time, but eventually it might be revealed to us. That is the only way I could explain it.”

Upon completion of basic training Boers went onto Advance Individual Training (AIT) at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, Colorado where he was trained in still photography and the art of combat documentary. His first duty assignment was the 24th Infantry Division (ID), Fort Stewart, Georgia where he worked on the post newspaper “The Patriot” and continued to enhance his skill as a still photographer. While in the 24th ID his most notable accomplishment was his documentation of the 24th ID Military Police Company and the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment during their deployment to Grenada.

By 1985 Boers’ covered numerous military field training exercises, real world operations and other local news media events for the Patriot. This allowed him to enhance his skill even more as a combat photographer and opened him up to the world of photojournalism. Boers’ next assignment was to the Korea where he was assigned to the Training Support Area Korea (TSAK), Headquarters East, 8th U.S. Army (EUSA). While in Korea Boers worked in Seoul, Camp Red Cloud, and Camp Kitty Hawk the first part of his tour, where he provided basic photographic support to the local commands. Boers extended his tour because he was selected to serve as the key photographer to the 8th EUSA Public Affairs Office (PAO), where his duties consisted of providing photography support to the senior leadership and to different news media outlets.

While in Korea, Boers met his wife (Tenica Y. Masterson), who was serving as a Military Police (MP) in the U.S. Army at Camp Coiner, Seoul, Korea. By March of 1987 the two had their first child (Christina Lee Boers) who was born at 121st Evacuation Hospital Seoul, Korea. Some of Boers’ major accomplishments while in Korea was the coverage of the 10th Asian games, numerous military field training exercise (such as, “Team Spirit“ and “Cobra Gold“), visiting dignitaries (President Ronald Regan, Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger, and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher). Also while attending the Korean Ranger school as a student, Boers’ documented the training and wrote about it. Not only did he graduate from the course, but his efforts paid off in his images and story was published in both U.S. and Korean media outlets.

Four years into his career Boers was ready for a change. He reenlisted for another four years and changed his Military Occupational Skill (MOS) to Air Defense Artillery. From 1998-1991 Boers worked as an Air Defender in the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado, and the 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. He found this time to be very rewarding, because it allowed him to grow as an Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) and hone his military tactical skills. Most notable during this time period Boers’ deployed to Panama, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and participated in numerous military field training exercise.

After Desert Storm Boers was reassigned to the 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office (PAO) under a compassionate reassignment due to family medical hardship. While in the PAO he worked as the senior staff photographer for the post newspaper “The Mountaineer.” His skill were quickly called upon as the 14th Public Affairs Detachment (PAD) needed an Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) to deploy with them to Kuwait for “Operation Southern Watch” in Kuwait in 1992. Upon his return from the Middle East in 1993, Boers’ went onto Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado to trained in video documentation and production. Boers was the top Army Graduate of his class and was hand picked for a new unit that was being formed at Fort Gorge G. Meade, Maryland - The 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) (COMCAM).

The 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) (COMCAM) holds the proud distinction of being the U.S. Army’s only active duty COMCAM unit. Their mission is to provide still and video documentation of Army operations during peacetime, contingencies, and combat. Ready to deploy on a moment's notice, the 55th employs state-of-the-art documentation equipment and is equipped with still and motion cameras, night vision equipment, and editing suites. The unit also has the distinction of having an MTOE authorized airborne capability requiring the unit to conduct monthly airborne operations to maintain the airborne qualified status of select members of the unit.

Boers’ thrived in COMCAM as a Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) and as a photographer as he took his squad all over the United Stated and the world on military training exercise and real world operations. While in COMCAM he served as a Squad Leader and as a Platoon Sergeant. Most notable of his deployments was his third tour to the Middle East (Kuwait), two tours to Haiti, two tours to Bosnia, and a tour to Kosovo.

After spending five years in COMCAM Boers’ was reassigned to the Combat Maneuver Training Center(CMTC), Hohenfels, Germany as a Platoon Sergeant to the Viper Team in early 2000. While in Germany Boers’ deployed in support of two major training exercise to Poland (Victory Strike) and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Summit University of Louisiana. Boers continue to hone his skills in photography, this time more towards the “Fine Art” aspects of it. He felt that you could mix the fine art, combat documentary, and photojournalistic aspects together to create a more powerful image, like the one’s seen in “Time” or “Life” magazine. Well as luck would have it - in late 2003 Boers was reassigned back to COMCAM and was now leading one of the largest COMCAM team deployments to Iraq (his fourth tour to the Middle East) in more than 10 years as the Detachment First Sergeant.

His tour in Iraq lasted 15 months with his team having the most images published by U.S. and World medial outlets, as well as his team earning more than 15 Bronze Stars, which is the largest number ever earned by any COMCAM team. They document every major battle in Iraq from early 2004 until mid 2005; to include the first elections in Iraq and daily combat operations and combat support mission too. Upon their return to Fort Meade, his team had little down time as they were deployed in support of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. In December 2005 Boers had made Master Sergeant and was put on orders to the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, California.

By February 2006 Boers had reported in to NTC and was assigned to the Vulture Team, Operations Group. The mission was very similar to that of CMTC, Hohenfels, Germany, but Boers’ had only been their for only ten months when he came down on orders for his fifth tour to the Middle East. This time Boers would be going over as a Military Liaison and Advisor to the Polish at Camp Echo in Iraq. While in Iraq Boers’ wife (Tenica Y. Masterson) asked for a divorce after 21 years of marriage. This did not slow down Boers or distract him from his mission in Iraq, he excelled and was highly commended by the Polish and his U.S. superiors for his outstanding leadership.

During his mid tour leave from Iraq Boers received the ultimate honor in 2007 at the Annual Inter-tribal New Year’s Eve Pow Wow in Fresno, California. During a break in the ceremony, Lipan Tribal Chairman Daniel Castro Romero called Boers to the center of the room for a blessing and cleansing ceremony. In the place of honor next to him stood his mother and his daughter, Christina. While Chairman Romero conducted the ceremony, Ron Goode, one of his Title IV counselors, told the audience about Boers’ military exploits and his services to the Lipan people.

Boers had been told about the ceremony ahead of time, but he was not prepared for what followed. Chairman Romero bestowed upon Boers the title of Lipan War Chief and renamed him Nanta ee, meaning Lipan Apache Warrior Number 2.

“I could not believed the it,” Boers. “Our tribe has not had a War Chief in over 70 years. It is a great honor to receive the title Lipan War Chief, and I could never expect anything like this in a million years. It is also very humbling, because there have been many great warriors in our tribes, and they have not had this title bestowed upon them. I will always do my best to bring honor upon all warriors, our people, and my family.”

Boers completed his tour in Iraq and returned to the Vulture Team, NTC at Fort Irwin, California, but after eight months of being home, he started to develop medical complication from his injuries that he had sustained from his last two tours in the Middle East and was reassigned to the Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) at Fort Irwin. While assigned to the WTU Boers’ has earned an Associate of Science in Photography and another one in Management from Barstow Community College. He also participated and attended the 11th Annual American Indian Inaugural Ball (January 20, 2009) in Washington, D.C. as part of the All Native American Veteran’s Honor-Color Guard. Boers’ is currently still in the WTU and preparing to retiring in January 2010 with more than 26 years, when he retires Boers will be the last Native American War Chief on Active Duty.

Dates of Ranks

 * Private Second Class: June 28, 1983
 * Private First Class: December 28, 1983
 * Specialist: July 1, 1985
 * Sergeant: July 1, 1987
 * Staff Sergeant: December 1, 1989
 * Sergeant First Class: August 1, 1999
 * Master Sergeant: December 1, 2005

Badges

 * Combat Action Badge
 * Parachutist Badge
 * Air Assault Badge
 * Driver Badge
 * Expert Rifle, Pistol, and Grenade Marksmanship Badges

Military Medals and Ribbons

 * Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
 * Purple Heart Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters)
 * Defense Meritorious Services Medal
 * Meritorious Services Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters)
 * Joint Services Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters)
 * Army Commendation Medal (with eight Oak Leaf Cluster)
 * Joint Service Achievement Medal
 * Army Achievement Medal (with nine Oak Leaf Clusters)
 * Good Conduct Medal (8th Award)
 * National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
 * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
 * Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 3 Campaign Stars)
 * Kosovo Campaign Medal
 * Iraq Campaign Medal
 * Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
 * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
 * Korean Defense Service Medal
 * Armed Forces Services Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
 * Humanitarian Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
 * Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
 * NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with Numeral 3)
 * Army Service Ribbon
 * Oversea Service Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
 * United Nations Mission in Haiti Medal
 * NATO Medal (2 - Yugoslavia service / 1 - Kosovo service)
 * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
 * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait)

Unit Awards

 * Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 1 Oak Leaf)
 * Valorous Unit Award
 * Meritorious Unit Commendation
 * Army Superior Unit Award (with 2 Oak Leafs)

Foreign Decorations

 * Republic of Korea Army Ranger Badge
 * Leistungsabzeichen (German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge - Bronze)
 * Sportabzeichen (German Sports Badge - Bronze)
 * Schutzenschnur (German Armed Forces Marksmanship Badge - Bronze)
 * Osterreichische Sprrt-Und Turnabzeichen (Austrian Armed Forces Sports Badge)
 * Heeresbergfuhrer (Austrian Army Mountain Guide Badge)
 * Trainingslager/Alpin Teilgenommen (Austrian Armed Forces High Alpine Badge)
 * Czech Airborne Wings
 * Polish Land Forces Parachutist Badge
 * DANCON Medal (Danish)
 * Polish Mulitnational Division Center-South Iraq Service Medal (with Numeral 4)

Education

 * Graduated from Roosevelt High School in June 1983 (Fresno, CA)
 * U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship for Still Photographer (March 1992)
 * U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship for Motion Picture Photographer (August 1993)
 * Associate of Science in Business Management from Summit University of Louisiana (June 2000)
 * Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Summit University of Louisiana (June 2001)
 * Certificate of Achievement in Photography from Barstow Community College (May 2009)
 * Associate of Science in Photography from Barstow Community College (May 2009)
 * Associate of Science in Management from Barstow Community College (June 2009)