Allen West

Allen West
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 22nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Ron Klein
Personal details
Born	Allen Bernard West[1] (1961-02-07) February 7, 1961 (age 51)[2] Atlanta, Georgia[2]
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Angela West
Residence	Plantation, Florida, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Tennessee (B.A., political science, 1983) Kansas State University (M.A., political science, 1986) U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer College (Master of Military Arts and Sciences in political theory, military history and operations, 1997)[3]
Religion	Christian[4]
Website	Allen West For Congress Congressman Allen West
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1982–2004, 22 years
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands	2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery, 4th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards	Bronze Star Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal Army Achievement Medal

Allen Bernard West (born February 7, 1961) is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 22nd congressional district. A Republican, West took office in January of 2011. He is the first black Republican Congressman from Florida since Josiah T. Walls left office in 1876 near the end of Reconstruction.^[5]

West served in the United States Army for more than 20 years of active duty service, including several combat deployments in Iraq. He achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. After leaving the military he and his family moved to Florida where he taught high school for a year and worked for a defense contractor, including in Afghanistan as a civilian adviser to the Afghan National Army.

Early life

Allen West was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Herman and Elizabeth West. His father and older brother were both career military officers: His father served in World War II, and his brother served in Vietnam.^[6] His mother was a civilian employee of the United States Marine Corps. West joined the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program in the tenth grade and entered the United States Army in 1983 after he graduated from the University of Tennessee. West was a member of the third of four consecutive generations in his family to serve in the United States armed forces.^[6]

West received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Tennessee and his master's degree in political science from Kansas State University. He also earned a master of military arts and sciences degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military history and operations.^[3]

Military career (1983–2004)

Overview

West entered active duty on November 1, 1983, at Fort Sill then attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course. He then completed airborne training at Fort Benning. West's first assignment was as an airborne infantry company fire support team leader and battalion training officer in the 325th Airborne Battalion Combat Team. He was promoted to captain in 1987 and graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course.^[7] West was next assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, commanding B Battery, 6th Field Artillery Regiment. He was a battalion task force fire support officer for 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment. As a member of the 1st Infantry Division, he participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.^[7]

After redeployment from Kuwait, West served as an Army ROTC instructor at Kansas State University from 1991 to 1994, becoming the US Army ROTC Instructor of the Year in 1993. In January 1995 he was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division Support Command as the assistant operations/combat plans officer. West was promoted to major and attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1997. Upon completion, he became operations officer for the 18th Field Artillery Brigade before being assigned as executive officer of the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment. West was an army exchange officer at the II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune from 1999 to 2002.^[7]

He became battalion commander of the 2d Battalion 20th Field Artillery nicknamed "Deep Strike," 4th Infantry Division on June 6, 2002. He held this position until his retirement from the army.^[8]

Military Awards

West's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star; Meritorious Service Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Commendation Medal (three Oak Leaf Clusters, one Valor Device); Army Achievement Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster); Valorous Unit Award; Air Assault Badge; and the Master Parachutist Badge.^[3]

West has received 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.^{[citation needed]}

In January 2004, the conservative online political magazine FrontPage Magazine designated West its Man of the Year.^[9]

Iraq interrogation incident

While serving in Taji, Iraq, West received information from an intelligence specialist about a reported plot to ambush him and his men.^[10] The alleged plot reportedly involved Yahya Jhodri Hamoodi, a civilian Iraqi police officer.^[10] West, who was not responsible for conducting interrogations in Iraq and had never conducted nor witnessed one, had his men detain Hamoodi.^[10] In the process of detaining Mr. Hamoodi, soldiers testified that Hamoodi appeared to reach for his weapon and needed to be subdued.^[10] Hamoodi was beaten by four soldiers from the 2/20th Field Artillery Battalion on the head and body.^[11] West then fired his pistol near Hamoodi's head,^[10] after which Hamoodi provided West with names and information, which Hamoodi later described as "meaningless information induced by fear and pain."^[10] At least one of these suspects was arrested as a result, but no plans for attacks or weapons were found.^[10] West said "At the time I had to base my decision on the intelligence I received. It's possible that I was wrong about Mr. Hamoodi."^[10]

West was charged with violating articles 128 (assault) and 134 (general article) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. During a hearing held as part of an Article 32 investigation in November 2003, West stated, "I know the method I used was not right, but I wanted to take care of my soldiers."^[11] The charges were ultimately referred to an Article 15 proceeding rather than court-martial, at which West was fined $5,000.^[10] LTC West accepted the judgment and retired with full benefits in the summer of 2004. Asked if he would act differently under similar circumstances again, West testified, "If it's about the lives of my soldiers at stake, I'd go through hell with a gasoline can."^[11]

At his hearing, West pointed out that there were no further ambushes against American forces in Taji until he was relieved of his leadership post on October 4.^[12] After West's retirement he received more than 2,000 letters and e-mails offering him moral support.^[10] A letter supporting West was signed by 95 members of Congress and sent to the Secretary of the Army.^[10]

In September 2010, West spoke in defense of a group of U.S. military personnel known as the "Leavenworth 10" who were convicted of war crimes.^[13]

Post-military career (2004–2007)

After retiring from the U.S. Army, West moved his family to Florida and taught high school for a year.^[10] He then spent two years working for Military Professional Resources Inc., a defense contractor. While with MPRI, West served in Kandahar, Afghanistan as a "regional director."^[14] In that capacity, he was an adviser to the Afghan National Army.^[15]

Political career

West speaking at the 2010 CPAC.

2008 Congressional election

In the 2008 elections, West was the Republican candidate for Congress in Florida's 22nd Congressional district, unsuccessfully challenging the incumbent Democrat, Congressman Ron Klein. He was defeated by a margin of 9.4% of the votes.^[16]

2010 Congressional election

West spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 20, 2010 and was endorsed by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.^[17] As one of 32 African-American Republican candidates for Congress in 2010, West said he supported the Tea Party movement and dismissed the notion that the movement was motivated by racism as a creation of liberal critics and the news media.^[18] West has been described as a "tea party star"^[19] became a member of the congressional Tea Party Caucus in February, 2011.^[20] West defeated incumbent Ron Klein by a margin of 8.6%. West, along with newly elected Tim Scott, are the first African-American Republicans in Congress since J.C. Watts retired in 2003.^[21] West raised $5.4 million for his campaign, while his incumbent opponent raised $2.5 million. According to West, "...over 97 percent of our donations have come from individual contributions."^[22][23]

During the campaign, West's opponents accused him of being the only black member of a controversial motorcycle gang with ties to drug trafficking and prostitution; this is a claim that West has ridiculed.^{[24][25][26][27]}

2012 Congressional election

West raised more than $1.5 million in the 2011 second quarter to support his 2012 reelection bid. The majority of West's funding came from individuals, with an average contribution of $66 per person.^[28][29][30]

In 2011, the National Journal's Cook Political Report named West one of the top 10 Republicans most vulnerable to redistricting in 2012.^[31]

On February 1, 2012, West announced that he will run for reelection from the new 18th Congressional District, which consists of a majority of the current 16th Congressional District. This comes in the wake of Representative Tom Rooney switching from the 16th Congressional District to the 17 Congressional District. This move is considered to dramatically improve West's chances of reelection, though it will likely still be a competitive race.^[32]

U.S. House of Representatives

Congressional Black Caucus

West joined the Congressional Black Caucus on January 5, 2011. He is the first Republican to join the caucus since former Congressman Gary Franks retired in 1997.^[33]

Committee assignments

West has been appointed to the House Armed Services Committee and the Small Business Committee.^[34]

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
• Committee on Small Business
  • Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce
  • Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations

• Republican Study Committee
• Tea Party Caucus

Political views

In January 2011, West joined House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) in condemning the official flying of a Palestine Liberation Organization flag in Washington. West said that the raising of the flag is "an attempt to legitimize an organization with a known history of terrorist actions".^[35] When asked during an interview with The Shalom Show how he would work with others "like Keith Ellison, who supports Islam" West stated that Ellison, a Minnesota Congressman and practicing Muslim, represents the "antithesis of the principles upon which this country was established."^[36] West later argued that his initial comment was misconstrued. He said the comments were "not about his Islamic faith, but about his continued support of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)."^[37] In a Boynton Beach Town Hall meeting, West told the Miami leader of CAIR that "I will always defend your right to practice a free religion under the First Amendment, but what you must understand, if I am speaking the truth, I am not going to stop speaking the truth. The truth is not subjective."^[38] In February 2011, West cited the threat of "radical Islamic terrorists" as his motivation for voting to extend provisions of the Patriot Act,^[39] however he voted against another extension in May 2011.^[40]

West was the keynote speaker at the 2011 Conservative Political Action Conference on February 13, 2011.^[41] West has described Michael Ledeen as one of his "foreign policy heroes."^[42]

On July 19, 2011, West sent an email to Democratic Representative and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz in response to comments directed at him in a speech the Congresswoman made on the floor of the House of Representatives after West had departed the chamber.^[43] West's email, which he copied to members of House Democratic and Republican leadership, characterized Wasserman as "the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives", said that she was "not a Lady" and asked that she focus, instead, on her own congressional district.^[44] This is a long-standing dispute that West says "dates back to the disgusting protest you ordered at my campaign headquarters, October 2010 in Deerfield Beach."^[45]

National Public Radio reported on April 11, 2012 that "At a town hall meeting Tuesday in Palm City, Fla., the Tea Party-backed freshman was asked by a man in the audience: 'What percentage of the American legislature do you think are card carrying Marxists or International Socialists?' West responded that he believed 'there's about 78 to 81 members of the Democrat Party that are members of the Communist Party.' When asked to name them, he replied 'It's called the Congressional Progressive Caucus'."

Personal life

West married Dr. Angela M. Graham on Christmas Eve in 1989. They currently reside in Plantation, Florida with their two daughters.^[46]

Electoral history

References

External links

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Allen West (politician)

• Congressman Allen West official U.S. House site
• Allen West for Congress official campaign site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Failure of Command – The case of Lt. Col. Allen B. West, Jed Babbin, National Review, December 4, 2003
• Rep. Allen West on The George Jarkesy Show