I am proud to be a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve as an infantry Colonel with Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). I am presently serving on active duty with the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, having been mobilized under Presidential Recall orders on 5 January 2004 for the second time in two and a half years. I was deployed in February to Al Anbar Province, Iraq (Camp Blue Diamond outside of Ar Ramadi), in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II, and returned to the United States in July to serve out the balance of my one-year activation orders at Division Headquarters. When I am not serving on active duty, I am an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Washburn University in Topeka. My two daughters-ages nine and seven-and I live in Westwood, Kansas.

I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 9 August 1976 (at the age of 17), and after serving two periods of active duty as both an enlisted Marine and as an officer, I left active duty and joined the Marine Corps Reserve on 1 July 1984. Since that time I have been mobilized for active duty service-and deployed overseas-three times for three wars. I served on active duty in support of Operation DESERT STORM, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM I and for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II. And although I do not enjoy being shot at, the long separations from my family and friends, or the time away from my civilian career, I have been honored to answer the call in defense of our country.

Throughout my 28 years of service, I have been deployed overseas numerous times in defense of our country, our freedoms, and our way of life. Each deployment-whether it was during peacetime or for service in a combat zone-has come at a heavy price to my family, my employer, and my community. But each deployment has also meant a meaningful contribution to not only our country, but also the world in which we live. We have fought for the liberation of Kuwait, provided humanitarian assistance after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, toppled the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein, ensured that Iraq would not be a harbor for terrorism or a threat to its neighbors, and fought the dangerous Iraqi insurgency as well as guaranteeing the first free elections in the country.

Although it is hard to translate geopolitics into a rationalization sufficient to satisfy the worries of a child, I believe my daughters understand I am doing something very important for our country. And they trust that I would not leave them unless it was absolutely necessary. They are very proud of what I'm doing, summarizing my last two deployments simply as: "My Daddy is protecting the American flag!" I hope some day they will understand that this sacrifice-and mine-was worth it. But for now, I am comforted by the belief that they will grow up in a world that was made a little safer by what we have done.

During this difficult time I have been deeply touched by the support I have received. My ex-wife, with whom I share custody of our daughters, has had to care for the girls full-time without much of a break for most of the past two years. My employer, Washburn University, has had to cover my classes with the teaching load of other professors. And the Westwood Planning Commission, where they still hold my vacant seat, has had to carry on its important work without me. But in each case, for my family, friends and community, all have contributed greatly to supporting me during this time. I have tried to honor their collective sacrifice with my service. This is as it should be.

My father raised me to believe in the absolute obligation of public service, that every citizen has a duty to serve in some capacity, and without that service, this country could not survive. Through all the hardship, I'm proud to do my part.