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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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Retired colonel shares his plans for Congress

Guest Author

Retired Colonel Tom Brewer spoke about his campaign for the Republican nomination for Nebraska’s Third Congressional District.

Brewer grew up on a farm north of Gordon and is the son of Ross Brewer and Alice DeWolf Brewer, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Brewer graduated from Gordon High School in 1977 and went on to Doane College where he began his military career, participating in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and eventually become Commander of his Unit. While at Doane, Brewer also ran track, cross country, and participated in the student government, serving as Senator and vice president. Brewer graduated college in 1984.

After several years of military education and experience, Brewer was sent to Afghanistan in May 2003 to take command of the training of the Afghan National Army. During this assignment Brewer was shot six times during an ambush. As a result, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

In August 2005, Brewer was selected to command the first Task Force in response to Hurricane Katrina.

Congress-hopeful Tom Brewer, speaks about his life and experiences, at the meet and greet in the Student Center Bordeaux Room. —Photo by Ashley Swanson
Congress-hopeful Tom Brewer, speaks about his life and experiences, at the meet and greet in the Student Center Bordeaux Room. —Photo by Ashley Swanson

In January 2010, Brewer was on an assignment as an Afghan Ministry Interior Advisor for U.S. CENTCOM Counter Narcotics mission in Afghanistan to stop the drug production and trafficking. A grenade hit his vehicle and he was severely wounded forcing him to retire from military duty after 36 years of service.

“After I retired, I wanted to hunt bears,” Brewer said. “But you can’t get paid to hunt bears.”

He then chose to become more active in politics. Brewer’s opponent is current Representative Adrian Smith, going on his eighth year and has nothing to show for it according to Brewer.

“Seven years is enough time to get your act together,” he said.

“I am prepared to work toward common sense solutions that are good for Nebraska, because they are good for America,” Brewer said in his Position Statement.

Some areas he plans to address are to restore veteran’s rights, to amend or repeal unnecessary government regulations, to protect the sanctity of human life, and implement an effective immigration policy without amnesty, among many other issues.