Frank Staheli of Serving the People of Iraq
Frank Staheli talks about his milblog Serving the People of Iraq.
Question: What are 3 things your readers probably do not know about you?
- That I was born in Saigon, Vietnam while my father was working there in the early 1960’s.
- That I served in Iraq after my wife and I prayed about whether I should retire from the military (the answer was to stay in).
- That I am afraid of heights.
Question: How long have you been blogging and why did you get into blogging?
After having served in Iraq for about 4 months, I decided to capture my feelings. Serving Iraq was born. I feel a catharsis when I can put my feelings down for posterity, and that’s what keeps me going. The learning that takes place as I study such issues as Oil for Food, PBS lack of desire to show a film about moderate Muslims, and successes in Iraq makes it all worth it. I chose the name Serving Iraq because I felt it was important to remind myself and my readers that we are attempting to provide a valuable service to the people of Iraq–helping them to achieve liberty.
Question: What is your military experience?
I served in the Utah National Guard with the 222nd Field Artillery for nearly 25 years. I retired in December 2006. I was a Fire Direction Chief for 19 of those years, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Question: What are some of your other favorite Milblogs?
- SoldiersPerspective
- Mudville Gazette
- Kari with a K!
- Gazing at the Flag
- VA Joe!
Question: What has been the biggest factor in helping you create and publish a successful blog?
I feel that I am an excellent writer and I am often able to provide a unique perspective into the stories and issues of the day. The challenge of writing something that people will read and appreciate is what keeps me going. The occasional compliments from readers doesn’t hurt either!
Question: Do you have anything else you would like us to mention about you, your blog, or your readers?
Since returning home, I have also written prodigiously in another web log entitled Simple Utah Mormon Politics. I’ve made a handful of appearances on a national radio talk show called “The Right Balance” with Greg Allen, where I’ve talked about my service in Iraq, etc.
