Helge Boes
Encyclopedia
Helge Boes, an operations officer with the Central Intelligence Agency
, was killed on February 5, 2003, while participating in United States
counterterrorism efforts
in eastern Afghanistan
. Boes was taking part in a live-fire exercise when a grenade
detonated prematurely, killing him and wounding two others. He was the second CIA officer to die as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, the first being paramilitary officer Mike Spann on November 25, 2001.
Boes was a graduate of Georgia State University
, earning a postgraduate degree from Harvard Law School
and practicing with the law firm of Latham & Watkins
before joining the CIA in January 2001. He was survived by his wife, Cindy, his parents, Roderich and Monika Boes of Germany
and his brother Henrik.
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
, was killed on February 5, 2003, while participating in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
counterterrorism efforts
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
in eastern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Boes was taking part in a live-fire exercise when a grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
detonated prematurely, killing him and wounding two others. He was the second CIA officer to die as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, the first being paramilitary officer Mike Spann on November 25, 2001.
Boes was a graduate of Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
, earning a postgraduate degree from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
and practicing with the law firm of Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins LLP is a global law firm, one of the largest in the world. Latham currently employs approximately 2,000 attorneys in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm was started in Los Angeles in 1934 and has extensive Californian roots, but its largest office is now...
before joining the CIA in January 2001. He was survived by his wife, Cindy, his parents, Roderich and Monika Boes of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and his brother Henrik.