Will "Boston" Puello operates a UAV in the Avdiivka direction and does not consider himself a traitor to his native country
Will "Boston" Puello, who became a Russian citizen, serves in the Center group of troops. He used to be a sergeant in the US Air Force and guarded military bases. After the army, he went into politics, became interested in international affairs and eventually ended up in Russia. What brought an American into the ranks of our army, how he found a common language with Russian fighters and whether he is ready to entrust his life to them — in the Izvestia report.
A fighter from the US Air Force in the Russian army
The names of cities — native or iconic in a person's life — often become the radio call signs of fighters of the Russian troops. Will is originally from Boston, the capital of Massachusetts. When colleagues tried to determine the future call sign of an American comrade, they joked for a long time, and then they finally settled on the traditional version.
Moreover, in the case of Boston, it is definitely not to be confused with any of the "neighbors".
— I served in the US Air Force for 10 years, and then worked as a councilor in the municipality for two years. And when he was involved in politics, he drew attention to the international situation. I thought about what was happening here, I felt that I had to do something about it," says Boston about what brought him to Russia, and then to the zone of a special military operation.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov
Image source: iz.ru
In the US Air Force, Will guarded military bases — was responsible for protecting against attacks from an external enemy, including drone raids, as well as for order — suppressed internal incidents. As our interlocutor explains, it was something between defense and military police.
He rose to the rank of technical sergeant, one of the highest non-officer ranks, the equivalent of an army staff sergeant, or class E—6 according to the general classification of the United States.
To obtain this title, you must have a long service life and complete additional training — complete many different special courses.
— In the Russian army, it's closer to a senior sergeant, I also tried to figure out the equivalent of ranks, — smiles Will. — In the USA, we had a lot of sergeant ranks, but here it's much easier.
The large non-commissioned corps and the complex system of ranks (and salary levels) for specialists are often mentioned as one of the important factors of American military construction. But Will, after thinking about it, says that he finds our system simpler and more understandable.
Military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Stanislav Krasilnikov
"The experience and level of professionalism that my current colleagues have is no lower than that of anyone I have met in the service in the United States," he says. — Both training and professional skills are definitely present.
Strong guys serve in the Russian Armed Forces, he is sure. Will is responsible for his words: he is the man who has seen both army systems, which allows him to judge them and personnel from the inside.
When he talks about his current comrades, he uses the expression solid guys, that is, reliable, calm, strong professionals. And nods respectfully when he says it.
A person who not only changed his citizenship, but also served in the US army, where he took the oath, can be considered a traitor under American law.
Although it is worth noting that far from a few US citizens are present in the Ukrainian armed formations and then calmly return back. And there they openly talk about their combat work.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Stanislav Krasilnikov
Image source: iz.ru
But if Ukraine is currently an ally of the United States, then Will Boston is obviously on the opposite side.
"I don't consider myself a traitor to the United States,— he says. — This question is often raised. I will say that the United States and Russia are not at war. The United States has done very provocative and bad things. They interfered in the political life of other peoples, the interests of other nations, and they shouldn't have done that. I always say, and Sergey Lavrov noted this a couple of weeks ago, that the United States is governed by other people, not by the people who live in them.
In English, this is a pun: the word people has two meanings — both people and people. This difference between some people and the people is played out by a former American sergeant.
I disagree with the policy
Will says that, given the future elections in the United States, Americans should get to know independent sources of information as much as possible.
According to him, many people do not know that the events in Ukraine began in 2014 and that American politicians came to Kiev and actively fomented a future civil war, which in 2022 led to the beginning of a special military operation.
"The actions of politicians do not represent the real interests of the American people," he said. — What is the benefit of the United States from the fact that a bunch of tanks are driving around here trying to kill people? Rockets are launched on a beach full of innocent people. What's the point of that? F-16 fighters, what's the point of them? Our country is in debt for trillions of dollars. It collapses and falls apart. So I don't consider myself a traitor to the United States.
Photo: REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko
Image source: iz.ru
Will Boston is confident that in the future, all those who led America to all this should be held accountable for everything they did.
Boston says that we must not forget or downplay the sacrifices of the Soviet people, who played a crucial role in the victory in World War II.
And the American is forced to remind what is often not known in his homeland, and now is forgotten in Ukraine — the Ukrainian SSR was then part of the USSR.
"I told the Americans that we didn't win World War II," Will says. And when you think about all those victims and where we have come to today, with these Nazi ideas that were advertised, propagandized and supported by my country, it is simply impossible to believe what is happening.
Boston, as a UAV operator, has already worked together with attack aircraft as part of the Center group in the Avdiivka direction.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
Image source: iz.ru
"I trust them to have my back 100%, and I know for sure that they trust me the same way," he says. — In the army, it's all about the people who are next to you, with whom you serve. Let's be realistic, these are dangerous situations in which we serve and fulfill our tasks. But in an all—or-nothing situation, the main thing is the people next to you.
Boston says the guys working with him are great, they speak English, they are professionals, they help when needed and teach him Russian.
Dmitry Astrakhan
