Dan Crenshaw: Veteran, Congressman from Texas
Dan Crenshaw is a Republican who has won a seat in the US House of Representatives in Texas’ 2nd Congressional District. This is his first political office.
About Dan Crenshaw
Crenshaw was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1984 and grew up in Katy, Texas, however due to his father’s job in the oil and gas industry, he lived all over the world, including Ecuador and Colombia. Today he lives in Spring, TX with his wife Tara.
Education Background
He received his Bachelor’s in International Relations and Affairs at Tufts University in 2006. While there he earned his Naval officer commission through the Navy ROTC.
Military Career
He then reported to Navy SEAL training in Coronado CA. After he graduated SEAL training, he deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, joining SEAL Team Three for his first deployment overseas.
During Crenshaw’s 3rd deployment in 2012, he was hit by an IED blast during a mission in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was in a medically induced coma and when he woke up from that, he learned that his right eye was destroyed in the blast and his left eye had been badly damaged. The doctors did not believe he would ever be able to see again but after several difficult surgeries, he was eventually able to see again out of his left eye. After that he went on to deploy two more times, to the Middle East, and then to South Korea.
He became medically retired in 2016, after ten years in the SEAL teams, and reaching the rank of lieutenant commander. He earned two Bronze Stars, (one with Valor,) the Purple Heart, and the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor. He then went on to earn his Master in Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2017.
Political Career and Outlook
As a retired lieutenant commander in the US Navy, he announced in November of 2017 that he was going to run for office. He believes in importance of service over self and that our country needs leaders, not politicians. He wants to work towards building a stronger and more secure America. He also has a desire for a younger and more diverse republican party. Dan Crenshaw can bring his experience serving his country to Congress.
According to his website, national security, foreign policy, and defense, the economy, the 2nd amendment, abortion, immigration, religious liberty, education, federalism and the 10th amendment, free speech, healthcare, fixing the VA and taking care of veterans, american energy, local projects, supporting our Israeli allies, the middle east, and flood policy are all important issues to him.
He believes that the VA has made improvements but that is far from where it needs to be. He knows that veterans are hurting and that suicide rates are catastrophic. He believes that excessive benefits that veterans do not need, are costing taxpayers billions while crowding out veterans who really need the care. He has said that even after he joins Congress he will continue to go to the VA for his appointments so that he can continue to understand the patient experience at VA hospitals in Texas. He thinks it is time to move forward with privatization and outsourcing evaluation services for veterans that are coming into the VA system. That way, VA doctors can focus on healthcare for veterans and not with compensation evaluations.
Dan Crenshaw won against Democrat Todd Litton in Texas’ 2nd Congressional District.
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About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.