KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The Wolf Pack welcomed U.S. Air Force Col. John W. Bosone as the new 8th Fighter Wing commander during a change of command ceremony on June 1, 2018, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea.
Lt. Gen. Thomas Bergeson, 7th Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony and took the opportunity to provide his vision for Bosone as the newest leader of the Wolf Pack, while thanking his family via live feed. He also extended his gratitude to Col. David Shoemaker, the outgoing commander, for his leadership during the past year.
“The Wolf Pack has stood guard and continues to ensure the security of this great nation under brilliant leadership of Wolf 57, Col. David Shoemaker,” said Bergeson. “And now, thanks in large part to our military readiness, we stand at the precipice of the possibility of peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
Bergeson presented Shoemaker with the Legion of Merit, and afterwards, Shoemaker expressed his gratitude toward the Wolf Pack for their dedication and commitment to the 8th FW mission.
“Since this campaign began, the Wolf Pack has continued the mission to defend the base, accept follow on forces, and to take the fight north,” said Shoemaker. “The Wolf Pack kept our [F-16] Vipers roaring into the night and into the nightmares of our enemies.”
Shoemaker gave his final salute to the Wolf Pack and relinquished command to Bosone, who comes to Kunsan from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., where he was the vice wing commander of the 20th Fighter Wing; the “Shaw Weasels”.
As Wolf 58, Bosone begins his second tour at Kunsan following his first stint from 2003 - 2004 as the 35th Fighter Squadron Weapons and Tactics chief. Bosone, is a command pilot who has flown 100 combat missions and accumulated more than 2,700 flying hours in the T-37, T-38 and F-16A, B, C and D. As the 8th FW commander, Bosone is responsible for more than 2,700 active-duty personnel, four groups and 13 squadrons, including two F-16 fighter squadrons tasked with supporting 7th AF operational readiness.
“We can all agree that there is no other place, there is no other wing, like the Wolf Pack,” said Bosone. “Decades ago our nation made an ironclad commitment to our South Korean hosts, today we uphold the same commitment that our grandparents made. Together we will ensure that the war fighting legacy of the Wolf Pack remains unmatched.”