Good morning District 27. Today is T-25 days until the General Election. I want to share a photo of me in my service dress blues. I served my country as an officer for 21 years in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). This photo was taken at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, where I received the Indian Health Service National Director’s Award on November 9, 2009. You can click here to see photos from the ceremony: https://www.ihs.gov/nda/pastceremonies/20082009awardees/...
As a USPHS officer, I was actively involved in protecting our country during the war on terror when I was based in Washington, DC during the post-9/11 anthrax terror when our own Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle reported anthrax in his office. It was the US Public Health Service that was actively involved in managing the crisis at the Secretary’s Command Center to inform the President of any anthrax that could potentially threaten and shut down the Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans or the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City in February 2002. Many USPHS officers were readiness prepared in case there was a spread of anthrax at these venues and across the country. I was even required to receive the smallpox vaccine to prepare to respond to any bioterrorism threats during this same time. This is one of many examples of how USPHS officers responded to the needs of our country during the post-9/11 era.
Another example of how USPHS officers served our country was back in 2005. President George W. Bush detailed USPHS officers to assist the National Guard personnel in the wake of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The government provided additional resources by detailing our engineer, medical, and environmental health USPHS officers to provide triage, inspect the water and sewer infrastructure, and test the water supply to see if it was potable.
To learn more about how USPHS Officers continue to serve our country, I would encourage you to check out this link: https://www.coausphs.org/.../America-s-Health-Responders...
As a veteran, I am proud to have served my country. Sadly, the State of South Dakota does not recognize those veterans who served in the USPHS or NOAA. God willing, if I am elected to the state senate, I will sponsor legislation that honors and recognizes all active duty and veterans of the Uniformed Services. God bless.
NOTE: Anthony Kathol was a Commissioned Officer of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). The use of his rank, job titles, or photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the USPHS or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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