"In 2002, Doug joined the United States Air Force Reserve as a chaplain. He ministered to service members both at home and at Balad Air Force Base in Iraq, completing a combat tour in 2009."
Aside from his service as a pastor, state representative, and now United States Congressman, Doug has ministered to members of our military as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve since 2002. In 2008, he served a combat tour stationed at Balad Air Force Base in Iraq.
Hmmm. What does a lawyer really do in a combat tour on the safest base in Iraq?
From Global Security:
There was a Subway sandwich shop, a Pizza Hut, a Popeye's, a 24-hour Burger King, 2 post exchanges (PXs) that sold an impressive array of goods, 4 mess halls, a minature golf course, and a hospital. The base had a strictly enforced on-base speed limit of 10 miles per hour.
Must be rough on a base with 'a movie theater, two base PX's, fast food courts including Popeyes, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Burger King, Green Beans Coffee, dance lessons, an olympic size swimming pool, and an indoor swimming pool.' And the constant threat of visiting celebrities and politicians including Carrie Underwood in December 2006 and Gary Sinise.
Wonder if My Congressman got to meet Carrie or Gary?
"As of May 2004 the base had 17,000 troops and was 12 1/2 miles in circumference. General John Abizaid, commander of US Central Command, told the House Armed Services Committee in March 2004 that '. . . we are making Balad Airfield our primary hub in the region, and the idea of doing that is because we need to have the Baghdad International Airport revert to civilian control.'"
So Dear Dougie, during your combat mission in Irag inside a base 12 1/2 miles in circumference with fast food, celebrities, and an olympic sized outdoor pool, what were your daily duties as chaplain?
Did you go on convoy missions exposing yourself to enemy fire while maintaining the 10 mile per hour speed limit?
Did you ever fracken leave the base? Did you monitor the life guards? Did you share the foot holes and risk death just like the 8,000 civilian employees?
Tell us, Dear Dougie, what did you do in your combat tour of Iraq besides caplaining?
This is a repost. Here's some new information:
In 2007, Tony Blair begins withdrawal of UK forces.
Picture of Balad
Casualty list for Iraq War
Picture showing Bush May of 2003 "Mission Accomplished"
Article from Stars and Stripes on the dangers in 2004 from mortars at Balad
From 2007, Iraqi Parliament members request a withdrawal time table from US, an article from Fox News
From the US Army on Afghanistan and Iraq after 10 years. The war is costing $12 billion per month. In 2007, deaths in Iraq from all causes total 903. In 2008, 213 deaths.
Note on Deaths: OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM includes casualties that occurred between March 19, 2003, and August
31, 2010, in the Arabian Sea, Bahrain, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Persian Gulf,
Qatar, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Prior to March 19, 2003, casualties in these
countries were considered OEF.
Another link
And, so you don't think that I think it was easy for those who fought.
