By Jim Freeman

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – These days, for ten years now, Bonita “Bo” Farias is the administrative assistant at the First Baptist Church of La Follette. Who knew she is also retired United States Air Force Master Sergeant Bonita Farias who was once was responsible for distributing spy film to United States allies.

For almost 21 years, Farias served her country as a career member of the USAF. “A recruiter came to my high school, Kiser, in Dayton, Ohio, my senior year and within a year, I was in the Air Force. “In the beginning, my motivation to enlist was to provide for my daughter,” said Farias.

She also comes from a military family. Her grandfather served in the Army, and her father was in the Navy. “My uncle Frank on my mom’s side also served in the Army,” said Farias.

The master sergeant’s career began in 1977 at basic training in San Antonio, Texas, and from there, went through technical school at Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. Next was a stop in Okinawa, Japan, where as a non-commissioned officer, she became an instructor.

Farias became an information specialist with specialties in load planning as well as hazardous cargo. “I was trained by some of best in the business, and I maintain a lot of respect for them,” said Farias.

“In load planning, I would get a diagram of an airplane and then organize the equipment in a balanced manner loading it throughout the aircraft. The plane had to be balanced so it could lift and fly without any troubles. When I worked with hazardous cargo, I inspected all the equipment on the plane, monitored the air pressure of the plane’s tires and checked the fuel levels,” said Farias.

“They had to shoot down a missile that went off course. Debris was scattered everywhere,” said Bonita Farias.

At Vandenberg Space Force Base, previously Vandenberg Air Force Base, she witnessed many missile and satellite launches which she recalls as fun but scary and remembers one in particular. Staffers at the Santa Barbara County, California, air base, knew almost immediately that this missile was going awry. “They had to shoot it down. It was dubbed Santa Barbara or bust, because it veered the wrong way headed for Santa Barbara, the city. Debris was scattered everywhere,” said Farias.

Farias was on several deployments for intel to the likes of Guam, South Korea, the Philippines, England and Florida. “I had a lot of fun during my military career and really enjoyed it,” said Farias.

Farias shows off a scar that came about as a youngster. “My Uncle Frank, who was in the Army, actually saved my life when I was about five. He was in his uniform when I cut my arm and wrist on a drinking glass. He kept pressure on it until we got to the hospital.  He’s my real-life hero,” said Farias.

In support of wars during Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Afghanistan, spy planes, U-2 and SR-71, were deployed to take photos of those regions. The film was brought back and reviewed, and they would select designated areas. “I was responsible for distributing actual film cannisters to specific allies,” said the retired master sergeant.

Even though Master Sergeant Farias retired at the young age of 39, she really missed it. “I wished I could’ve gone back, because I for the first couple of years, I really missed it,” said Farias.

“I considered it a privilege and an honor to serve,” said retired United States Air Force Master Sergeant Bonita “Bo” Farias. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/04/2024-6AM)

Related