Posted on 06/05/2010 2:18:19 PM PDT by SandRat
HO This is photo provided by family shows Darren James LaBonte, 35, in Afghanistan in 2007. LaBonte was one of seven CIA employees who died when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a U.S. base in Khost, Afghanistan on Dec. 30, 2009. LaBonte and the others were remembered at the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y. on Memorial Day. As part of the ceremony, a B-17 bomber dropped flowers in the Atlantic Ocean not far from the site of the Twin Towers and the World Trade Center. (AP Photo/Courtesy of LaBonte's Family) NO SALES
A last photo shows Darren James LaBonte on an all-terrain vehicle in Khost, Afghanistan, days before his death. He's smiling.
Athlete, soldier, husband, father _ and determined CIA officer.
LaBonte's family had promised him they wouldn't talk about his work. They kept that pledge as they mourned in private after he died along with six other CIA employees and a Jordanian intelligence officer in the suicide bombing at a U.S. base in Afghanistan in late December.
Even now, months after his burial, they won't detail the dangerous work he did for the agency. "We made that promise to him," said LaBonte's parents, David and Camille.
But his family did decide over Memorial Day to acknowledge that he was among the bombing victims _ and they decided to tell the world a bit about the man behind the name.
All but two of the CIA employees killed in the blast had previously been identified publicly. The seventh victim, the agency's chief of base, a 45-year-old mother of three and an al-Qaida expert, remains anonymous.
Indeed, anonymity is part of the trade-off for a career in intelligence. CIA families have grieved in silence for decades.
"It's hard to understand," said Ted Gup, author of "The Book of Honor: The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives." "It's hard for our entire culture to grasp the nature of this sacrifice. We live in a culture of celebrity where what is not recognized doesn't exist."
Spies, he added, "come out of a culture where what is recognized ceases to exist. The light is lethal."
The CIA won't discuss LaBonte, but his parents and wife agreed to shed some light about his death. And over this past Memorial Day weekend, a historic B-17 plane dropped flowers over the Statue of Liberty in a tribute to the seven slain Americans.
LaBonte was 35 years old when he died, ending a career that included service in the military and a series of law enforcement jobs.
"He was a pretty talented guy," said his father, who described the son as "intelligent, complex and an incredible athlete."
LaBonte grew up in Connecticut. He played baseball and football at Brookfield High School. He turned down a shot at professional baseball with the Cleveland Indians when he graduated from high school in 1992 and opted for the Army, said his father, a former Navy SEAL.
LaBonte earned the celebrated black and yellow Ranger patch and was assigned to First Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, one of the toughest units.
In 1999, LaBonte met his wife _ Racheal _ on a blind date to a Ranger ball in Savannah, Ga., where he was stationed. The following year, they married and he left the Army. But after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, LaBonte wanted to get back into the fight.
"He was hellbent on making this 9/11 thing right," his father said. "That really affected him badly."
LaBonte decided not to re-enlist in the Army, choosing to pursue an education and a career in law enforcement. He graduated from Columbia College of Missouri and received a master's degree in May 2006 from Boston University, where he studied criminal justice.
Along the way, he had worked as a police officer in Libertyville, Ill., and as a U.S. marshal before joining the FBI. The family said LaBonte won a leadership and shooting award at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., then landed in the FBI's New York field office.
The CIA recruited him, and he resigned from the FBI in late 2006, moving with his wife to the Washington, D.C., area. His father had reservations about the CIA, but his son had always steered his own course.
He was a "man determined to be a part of the solution to the unrest in our world," his mother said.
His parents declined to discuss what he did for the agency. But the elder LaBonte said his son had served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Amman, Jordan, his last posting before he died in Afghanistan. Father and son talked about the perils of his job.
"I don't think he feared death," David LaBonte said. "He faced it."
"He was a Spartan," his wife said. "He had to do these things. I respected him and honored him."
Darren LaBonte's parents, who live Arnold, Md., said they had planned a Christmas trip to Italy about the time of the Khost bombing. Their son planned to meet them, along with his wife and daughter Raina, who turns 3 in November. LaBonte's younger brother also was coming.
On Dec. 17, LaBonte left for Afghanistan, leaving his wife and daughter in Amman.
"He was anxious but excited about the mission," Racheal LaBonte said.
His trip to Italy was suddenly delayed. The CIA believed it was on the verge of a major breakthrough in the hunt to kill Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaida's No. 2. The Jordanians had a man on the inside who said he had information about the terrorist.
On the night of Dec. 30, while staying in a villa in Tuscany _ the day before LaBonte was supposed to arrive in Italy _ his wife took a phone call: Her husband was dead.
"You hear it, but you don't comprehend it," she said. "They are words you never want to hear in your entire life."
In a deadly double-cross, five CIA officers, two security contractors and a Jordanian intelligence officer were killed at the remote base in Khost. Six other CIA officers were wounded.
David LaBonte said the U.S. government "took us by the hand" and helped the grieving family make its way back to the U.S. He praised CIA Director Leon Panetta, who made sure his son was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral was Feb. 1. The chief of base was also laid to rest at Arlington.
"There was some question about Darren being buried in Arlington," the father said. "Within days, Panetta took care of this, which was a big thing for us. I thought he would be standoffish. He has been magnificent with our family. He has been caring and sincere, not an aloof politician."
Camille LaBonte said the CIA has not forgotten her son or what he did for the country.
"They have not left us," she said. "They can't bring our people back, but they do try to honor them in many different ways."
In March, the family attended a memorial service in Amman, where Robert Beecroft, the U.S. ambassador, praised the fallen CIA officer.
"Most of the people in the CIA are just like the rest of us but they have dangerous jobs," said Racheal LaBonte. "He loved his family. He loved his job. It's not about killing people. It's about saving people."
___
Online:
CIA statement on the bombing: http://tinyurl.com/y8tfnmo
President Barack Obama's remarks at CIA service: http://tinyurl.com/37s5o7e
God bless these patriots; one and all for their duty, honor, and sacrifice for their country.
The govt, Pentagon, Defense Dept et al are now filled with moles for Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. I am sure intel is being give to the Taliban and Al Quida to kill our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Joint Chiefs are cowards. The idiots in America who watch TV empower the muslim.
I’ll second that. R.I.P young man and thank you.
The sewer RATs in our Congress and this Regime aren’t worthy of licking the bottoms of these patriots boots.
Thanks, and God’s blessings to all the special agents and intelligence officers who work behind the scenes to keep us safe.
Great post.
As always, thanks for the pings.
Tragic loss. What an imposing presence in that photo.
The “Jordanians” had a man inside close to al-Zawahiri... and the CIA believed that!?? The back story of the failure of this entire op is nothing short of incompetence, and violated every tenet of covert agent operations. Front Page magazine has an in depth examination of this. This fine young man was killed due to the incompetence of the “head of base” female who was an “analyst” “expert” on al-Qaida, directing a serious human intelligence operation that was way out of her experience or capabilities. The head of base wanted to “meet” in person with the Jordanian discovered operative, who, once he confirmed this.. wired himself up with enough plastique to take out all of the leadership... who the “head of base” invited to the same meeting!! All of them!! All around a virtually un-vetted intermediary pushed to them by Jordanians (who are themselves suspect and compromised). What a tragedy. Thank you for your service, young man and Godspeed.
Thanks.
Great post, SandRat. Thanks.
R.I.P. Darren James LaBonte, America’s finest.
Condolences to his wife, daughter, mom, dad, brother and the remainder of family and friends.
Thank you, sir.
love
WORTH REPEATING!!
Great man, soldier, father. Too bad so many die for ambiguous orders but they do it anyway, not for glory or heroism, but for duty, for honor, and their brothers in arms. God bless his surving family and friends. God bless all our soldiers, God bless them Lord.
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