Jump to content

Allen West (politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Kitrus (talk | contribs) at 23:52, 2 January 2010 (→‎Misconduct allegations and retirement: partisan source). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Allen B. West
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1982 - 2004
RankLieutenant Colonel
Commands2nd Battalion 20th Field Artillery 4th Infantry Division
Battles/warsOperation Desert Storm
Iraq War
AwardsBronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Other workpublic school instructor in Palm Beach and Broward Counties of Florida
(Deerfield Beach High School)
Adviser to the Afghan Army
(Military Professional Resources, Inc.)
Congressional candidate
(Florida's 22nd congressional district).

Allen B West b. (1961) is a retired American army officer and candidate for the United States Congress in Florida's 22nd district. West, who was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, currently resides in Florida with his wife Angela and his daughters Aubrey and Austen.

Education

West is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and obtained his masters degree in political science at Kansas State University. He also holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the US Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military history and operations.

Awards and decorations

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters, one Valor Device), Army Achievement Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), Valorous Unit Award, Air Assault Badge and the Parachutist Badge.

In addition, West has been awarded the following service medals and ribbons: National Defense Service Medal (with bronze star device), Southwest Asia Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon (multiple awards), Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal W/Palm Tree and Kuwait Liberation Medal

In January 2004, the conservative Frontpage Magazine named West its Man of the Year.[1]

Misconduct allegations and retirement

While serving in Taji, Iraq on August 20, 2003 as commander of the 2d Battalion 20th Field Artillery, 4th Infantry Division, Lieutenant Colonel West was in charge of the interrogation of an Iraqi police officer who was suspected of having information about planned attacks on American forces. According to the Iraqi police officer, Yehiya Kadoori Hamoodi claimed that during the interrogation soldiers under West's supervision assaulted him attempting to get him to talk.[2] Threatening to kill him if he didn't talk, West fired a pistol near the policeman's head.

West, who at the time was just short of having 20 years of service, was charged with violating articles 128 (assault) and 134 (general article) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and was in danger of receiving an 11 year prison sentence, dismissal, and losing his retirement benefits. West was processed through an Article 32 hearing in November 2003, where he admitted wrongdoing, was fined $5,000 over two months for misconduct and assault. He then submitted his resignation, and was allowed to retire with full benefits in the summer of 2004.[3][4]

At a hearing, West was asked by his defense attorney if he would do it again. "If it's about the lives of my men and their safety, I'd go through hell with a gasoline can," he said. [5]

After West's resignation was brought to public attention the next Fall, he received over two thousand letters and e-mails from the American public offering him moral support. In addition, a letter was drafted to the Secretary of the Army, its signatories being ninety-five members of Congress in West's support. Even a prominent critic of the Abu Graib affair, Sen. John W. Warner of Virginia, wrote a letter to his constituents in support of West's honorable intentions during the controversial incident.

Activities since retirement

After leaving the Army, West moved his family from Texas to Florida and was a high school teacher for one year. He has served in Afghanistan as a civilian adviser to the Afghan Army, an assignment that ended shortly after he was wounded by a rocket propelled grenade, which was accidentally discharged by Specialist Alexander Mirvis.

On May 29, 2007, West declared himself as a Republican candidate for congress in Florida's 22nd congressional district. West campaigned against Ron Klein for the congressional seat in the November 2008 elections.[6] He is currently running for the same seat in 2010. [7]

References

  1. ^ FrontPage Magazine
  2. ^ DEBORAH SONTAG (2004-05-24). "How Colonel Risked His Career by Menacing Detainee and Lost". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  3. ^ "U.S. officer fined for harsh interrogation tactics". CNN. 2003-12-13. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  4. ^ Colin Nickerson (2003-12-14). "US officer to resign for assulting Iraqi". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  5. ^ Art Moore (2003-12-12). "Lt. Col. West fined $5,000 Avoids court martial for using shock tactics to save lives". WorldNetDaily.com. Retrieved 2010-01-02. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 27 (help)
  6. ^ Rachel Kapochunas (2007-05-31). "GOP Targets Well-Funded Florida Freshman". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  7. ^ "Allen West for US Congress 2010". Retrieved 2010-01-02.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Allen_West_(politician)&oldid=335542500"