In a letter dated June 1, 2007, Major General Harold A. Cross, Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard, provides some insights into the character of Fifth Circuit nominee Leslie H. Southwick, a man who has been subjected to the vicious slanders of the Left, with the cowardly acquiescence of Senate Democrats:
Lieutenant Colonel Southwick joined the Army Reserve in 1992—obtaining an age waiver to allow him to join, even though he knew from the outset his age would necessarily prohibit him from serving long enough to vest a military pension. In 1997, then-Captain Southwick transferred into the Mississippi National Guard.…
[I]n 2003, Lieutenant Colonel Southwick volunteered to transfer into the 155th Separate Armor Brigade, a line combat unit. This was a courageous move, as it was widely known at the time that the 155th was nearly certain to mobilize for overseas duties in the near future.
In fact, in August 2004, the 155th mobilized for duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as the 155th Brigade Combat Team. From August 2004 to January 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Southwick served on active duty, distinguishing himself as Deputy Staff Advocate at Forward Operating Base Duke near Najaf—and later as Staff Judge Advocate for the 155th, located at Forward Operating Base Kalsu.…
Both before and after his service in Operation Iraq Freedom, Lieutenant Colonel Southwick has worked directly for me on numerous matters of significance to the Guard. I have always found his counsel sound, his bearing exemplary, his judgment exceptional, and his character beyond reproach.… I can tell you without hesitation that I have always found Lieutenant Colonel Southwick to treat everyone with whom he comes into contact with both kindness and respect.
Leslie Southwick was born in 1950. He turned 42 the year he joined the Army Reserve. He was 54 when he went on active duty to Iraq and nearly 56 when he returned. By all the evidence, he is an American hero. In addition, Southwick’s exemplary service as a judge, which even earned him a unanimous “well qualified” rating by the ABA, shows him to be amply deserving of confirmation to the Fifth Circuit. But this is the man the Left has seen fit to vilify with baseless smears.
More soon on the disgusting campaign against Southwick.