Allen West (former U.S. military officer)
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Iraq War
(Deerfield Beach High School)
Adviser to the Afghan Army
(Military Professional Resources, Inc.)
Congressional candidate
(Florida's 22nd congressional district).
Allen B West is a retired American army officer and candidate for the United States Congress in Florida. West, who was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, currently resides in Florida with his wife Angela and his daughters Aubrey and Austen. He is a vocal African American conservative.
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[edit] Candidate for Congress from Florida's 22 Congressional District
In 2008 Allen West is running as a republican candidate for Florida's 22nd congressional district against incumbent democrat Ron Klein.
[edit] Abuse allegations
While serving in Taji, Iraq on August 20, 2003 as commander of the 2d Battalion 20th Field Artillery, Fourth 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. During the interrogation, soldiers under West's supervision assaulted the detainee attempting to get him to talk.
The police officer insisted that he did not know anything about planned attacks and was loyal to the United States Army. When the detainee didn't talk, Lieutenant Colonel West fired his 9mm pistol close to the man's head. At this point, the man gave information about a planned ambush, resulting in its being thwarted. According to West, there were no further ambushes on U.S. forces in Taji until he was relieved of command on October 4, 2003.
In an interview with the New York Times the Iraqi police officer, Yehiya Kadoori Hamoodi, said he felt he must have been falsely implicated by another alleged informant as being a plotting assassin. Then, when Hamoodi next went on an assigned patrol with the 4th Division, Hamoodi was bound and beaten by the Division troops and told that their leader was coming to kill him. Hamoodi said that when he heard of West's coming, he felt relief, due to West's reputation with local officials and tribal leaders as a rational man of even demeanor.
When West arrived, West held a gun to Hamoodi's head and threatened to kill Hamoodi unless Hamoodi divulged names of would-be conspirators.[1][2] West discharged his weapon near Hamoodi's head. Thereafter, according to Hamoodi offered what he would later call meaningless information, induced by fear and pain.[1][2]
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, dishonorable discharge and losing his retirement benefits.
After West's forced 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 and a letter was drafted to the secretary of the Army, its signatories ninety-five members of Congress, in West's support. 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. In January 2004, anti-Jihadist Frontpage Magazine named West its Man of the Year.[3]
West was processed through an Article 32 hearing in November 2003, but was never Court-martialed. Instead in a deal with the prosecution, 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.
[edit] 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 is served in Afghanistan as a civilian adviser to the Afghan Army, an assignment that finished in November 2007.
On May 29, 2007, West declared himself as a Republican candidate for congress in Florida's 22nd congressional district. West will campaign against Ron Klein for the congressional seat in the November 2008 elections.
[edit] Education and awards
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.
[edit] 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
