Indiana Guard honors fallen Elkhart native

Photo By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry | Indiana’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, and Sgt. 1st Class Craig A. Boling’s family stand around a shadowbox in his honor during a ceremony at the National Guard armory in Elkhart, Ind., Sept. 17. The shadowbox will be mounted to the armory’s wall of honor. Boling died in 2003 while serving in Iraq with 76th Infantry Brigade's 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment.  

ELKHART, IN, UNITED STATES

09.17.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry 

Indiana National Guard Headquarters

ELKHART, Ind. - The Indiana National Guard honored one of its fallen soldiers in a ceremony at the Elkhart Armory, Sept. 17.

The ceremony commemorated Sgt. 1st Class Craig A. Boling who died of non-combat related causes on July 8, 2003, while serving with the 76th Infantry Brigade's 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment in Iraq.

"To him being part of the Guard was an honor. It was an extension of his family made of people he saw as brothers. My dad was very patriotic of his country," said Alisha Boling as she addressed approximately 100 people - friends, family members and soldiers in the audience.

Elkhart Mayor Richard Moore and Indiana's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, also spoke at the ceremony which featured the unveiling of a shadowbox that will be mounted to the armory’s wall of honor. The shadowbox features a folded American flag, Boling's service picture, his rank insignia, his medals, his ribbons, challenge coins and a biographical sketch.

"Craig was a soldier's soldier and was willing to go where the action was, willing to go into harm's way," said Umbarger during his speech. "He was a hero in every sense of the word.

“That’s who Craig is, was, a citizen first and a soldier second. And thank God we had him,” said Umbarger.

Boling’s family felt honored to have a memorial where others can remember him and his sacrifice.

“It’s very touching,” said Tania, his wife of 17 years. “The Guard meant a lot to him. Just to know that there’s someplace in the armory to know the sacrifices he made to the country means so much to us.”

• Date Taken: 09.17.2011
• Date Posted: 09.19.2011 15:04
• Story ID: 77265
• Location: ELKHART, IN, US