Boccieri flies five senators to Iraq

The lawmaker's co-pilot was a West Branch teacher.
The members of an Air Force C-130 crew commanded by John Boccieri are used to flying with politicians in and out of Iraq.
Boccieri, of New Middletown, D-61st, is serving his third two-year term in the state House.
But it was different this time.
Boccieri, an Air Force major and C-130 reserve pilot, and his crew recently flew five U.S. senators to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi leaders.
This is Boccieri's crew's third call to active duty as part of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in the past year. The crew members are part of the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Joint Air Reserve Station in Vienna.
The crew flew U.S. Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Susan Collins of Massachusetts, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin on Feb. 19 to Baghdad.
The senators met with Ayad Allawi, Iraq's interim prime minister; Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, and Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, the American leading the push to train Iraqi security forces.
"It was a real treat to have both Sen. McCain and Sen. Clinton on our flight deck during the takeoff out of Baghdad," Boccieri said. "It was a special flight."
Master Sgt. Chris Marino, a loadmaster on the flight who works for Lencyk Masonry in Howland, said, "In 20 years of service, I've never had this many important people on my airplane. They were gracious and respectful of the job we're doing. They said we're making a difference in Iraq."
Troop and cargo carriers
The 910th Airlift Wing is being overseen by the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, and mainly carries troops and cargo all over the Middle East. They've also flown other political heavy-hitters in the past, including then-Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Boccieri's co-pilot, Capt. Rodger Sharp, a West Branch High School teacher, said it was an honor to meet McCain, who he described as "a real American hero."
"He gave so much to our country, and when he thanked me for serving, I said, 'Oh, no, sir,' we need to thank you."
The fourth member of Boccieri's crew, Tech. Sgt. Charles Walker, the C-130's flight engineer and an Akron firefighter, said he was pleased to show the senators what he and others are doing in Iraq.
"They experienced our mission firsthand, and they will take this experience with them to Washington," he said.
Boccieri's unit was called to active duty earlier this year.