Massachusetts State Representative / DSC member deploys to Iraq

[paineinthearse]

As a Democratic Town Committee chair, I will be heading my town's contingent.

Please join me in sending off Rep. Harold (Hank) Naughton at a send-Off Party in Northborough on 9/13.

Lieutenant Naughton, a member of the Army Reserves, will be leaving for six months in Iraq at the end of September. Please join us on Tuesday, September 13 at 7 PM at (PM me for details).

[paineinthearse]

1. Naughton is heading to Iraq

Cross posted to GDP at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2076437

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050907/003-FRONTPAGE/509070793&SearchID=73219843777052

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Naughton is heading to Iraq

By John Weeks
BANNER STAFF

BOYLSTON— State Rep. Harold Naughton Jr. (D-Clinton) is stepping up for America. Naughton, 45, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves, has been ordered to Iraq "I received the orders last week," Naughton said Aug. 31. "I had been anticipating it." At the end of September, Naughton will ship out to Fort Bliss in Texas for 12 days of deployment training. "After that I head for the Multi National Force in Iraq for six months," Naughton said.

Naughton, who has a private law practice, serves as a judge advocate general (JAG) in the Army Reserves. "My duties could be changed once I get to Iraq," Naughton said. "But right now I am being sent there to work on judicial policy. I'll be working on issues dealing with the detention centers. Working on making sure an incident such as what happened at Abu Ghraib does not happen again."

Naughton said he will also be involved in the prosecution of former Iraqi government officials for war crimes and will work with the Red Cross to assist civilians. "Of course, this is all subject to change," he said. "Once I get there, they could say we don't need any lawyers right now, go dig a ditch." Naughton joined the Army Reserves in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001terrorist attacks. "I got the ball rolling in November 2001," he said. "It was a real paper chase. I had to get an age waiver. My papers had to go through several offices. It was September 2003 by the time I was signed up."

Naughton was assigned to the 3rd Legal Services Organization out of Boston and will be stationed with the 3rd Infantry Division in Baghdad. Naughton, unlike many lawyers and politicians, has received weapons training with the M16 and M4 rifles and the M9 sidearm. "I had to qualify on the target range," Naughton said. "There are guys in Clinton who know a lot more about guns than I do, but I got it done."

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