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| Task Force Guam leaders present photojournalist Ben Bohane (centre) with a special award after Bohane recently embedded with the Guam Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry Regiment. After years of covering conflict throughout the Pacific, Bohane ventured to Afghanistan to cover Pacific Islanders serving Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo: Sgt Eddie Siguenza] |
Sergeant Edward Siguenza reports from Camp Phoenix in Afghanistan for the Guam News
Benjamin "Ben" Bohane's strides are long, perfectly fitting his 6-foot-3 thin Australian frame.
So when he walks with genetically short-statured Pacific Islanders -- as he did as an embedded photojournalist with the Guam Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry Regiment throughout October -- he immediately established conflict with his military escorts.
"Hey, slow down," a 5-foot-7 Guam soldier shouts as they prepare to board a plane to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. "Take smaller steps. The plane's not going anywhere without us."
Bohane turns around and notices his 10-foot lead.
"Sorry mate," he proclaims in his Australian tone. "Size 12 shoes. I was born with big feet."
