The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is endorsing Col William J. Schafer, USA as the 134th Combat Veteran For Congress in eleven years; he is running for Congress in the 3rd  Congressional District of Iowa.  Col Schafer resides in Prole, IA, and served in the US Army for over 32 years.  Col Schafer is a fiscally conservative candidate who will work to reduce the national debt, to strengthen the US Armed Forces, to protect the Freedom of Religion and Speech guaranteed in the US Constitution, will defend traditional Family Values, and will provide “true” representation for Veterans and the average American voter in his Congressional District.  He understands issues facing our Veterans and will take action to ensure they are cared for both while serving their country and in retirement.  Col Schafer supports The Free Enterprise System, will work to stop the out-of-control spending by irresponsible members of Congress, and will support securing the southern borders, in order to prevent the entry of drugs, MS-13 gang members, terrorists, human traffickers, convicted Illegal Aliens, and other Illegal Aliens who intend to enter the United States illegally.    

Col Schafer is running in the Republican Primary Election against former 2 term Republican Congressman David Young who lost his seat to first term far left progressive, Congresswoman Cindy Axne.  Congressman Young opposes Term Limits, opposes a Balanced Budget, Co-Sponsored Red Flag Laws which is being used by 2nd Amendment Opponents to take guns away from law abiding citizens, and in May 2016 Cong Young supported the protecting LGBT individual from discrimination in government contracting which affords unfair discriminatory advantages in the government contracting process.

Congresswoman Axne voted for the Equality Act which restricts religious liberties and allows male athletes to compete unfairly in women’s sporting events as transgender athletes, voted for impeachment of President Trump in the House, supports on going future impeachments of President Trump, opposes closing the wide open southern border, supports the Affordable Care Act which penalize Americans with large fines who can’t afford medical insurance, supports Medicare for All Act of 2019 which provides for a government controlled Universal Health Care Program, including for Illegal Aliens (according to the nonpartisan Mercatus Center at George Washington University, this would cost $36 trillion, or approximately $232,258.00 per household), and voted in lock-step with Speaker Pelosi near 100% of the time.

William Schafer was born on December 3, 1962 in Fort Bliss, Texas as the son of an Army Officer on active duty.  In his youth, Bill was raised in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Germany, New York, and in Maryland.  Bill comes from a family with a history of service in the US Armed Forces.  Bill’s father, Lieutenant Colonel Floyd J. Schaefer USA (Ret), who served in the US Army for 23 years, including two years from 1968 to 1969 in Vietnam, was Honorably Discharged in 1979.  His brother, Major John J. Schafer, USA (Ret) served from 1980, for 15 years and was Honorably Discharged in 1995.

While Bill attended Aberdeen Senior High School in Aberdeen Maryland, he was on the varsity wrestling team; he graduated in June 1980.  Bill attended East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, PA, and was enrolled in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps; he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics in December 1984.  In June 1993 he received a Master’s of Arts Degree in Human Resource Development, Webster University in Little Rock Air Force Base, Little Rock, AR.  In June 1997, Lt Col Schafer graduated from the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  In June 2006, Lt Col Schafer attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, DC and in June 2007, received a Master of Science Degree in National Resource Strategy.

Bill enlisted in the US Army Reserve and was assigned to a Unit in Gettysburg, PA.  Upon graduation from East Stroudsburg University, William Schafer was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Reserve on December 20, 1984, and was assigned to a US Army Reserve Unit in Gettysburg, PA.  He received orders to Active Duty on February 21, 1985, to report to Infantry Basic Officer Training, at Fort Benning, GA.  In August 1985, upon completion of Basic Officer Training, 2nd Lt Schafer was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.  In August 1986, 2nd Lt Schafer was promoted to First Lieutenant and was assigned as Company Executive Officer.  In September 1986, 1st Lt Schafer completed Ranger School at Fort Benning, GA.  In October 1988, 1st Lt Schafer reported to Infantry Officer Advanced Course Bradley, at Fort Benning, GA graduating in March 1989.     

In March 1989, 1st Lt Schafer deployed from Fort Benning to Ayers Kaserne, Germany to join the 3rd Armored Division as a Human Resources Officer.  In May 1989, 1st Lt Schafer was promoted to Captain.  In December 1991, in support of Operation Desert Storm, Cpt Schafer deployed from Germany as Commander of C-Company, 5th Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment to Dharan, Saudi Arabia, assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Armored Division, while awaiting the Division’s equipment to arrive during the Air Campaign against Iraq; they were under the threat of Scud Missile attack while awaiting their equipment.  

During combat operations the 5th Battalion flanked the enemy trenches/obstacles, cleared trenches and bunkers in Kuwait, and in final stages provided a blocking position between Iraq and Kuwait and security to local civilians.  Cpt Schafer earned the 3rdArmored Division Right Shoulder Combat Patch, the Combat Infantrymen’s Badge, a Bronze Star Medal, and a Bronze Star Medal with the Combat “V” Device.  The 3rd Armored Division redeployed to Ayers Kaserne, Germany in May 1991. 

In October 1991, Cpt Schafer was transferred from Germany to the Task Force 1 Joint Readiness Training Center at the Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.  In June 1993, Cpt Schafer was transferred to be an Instructor for Infantry Officers Advanced Course, Fort Benning, GA.  Following Instructing, Cpt Schafer was assigned as E Company Commander, 4th Ranger Battalion, and Assistant Operations Officer of the Ranger Training Brigade.  In June 1996, Capt Schafer was promoted to Major, and received orders to the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and graduated in June 1997.  In June 1997, Maj Schafer received orders to report as Executive Officer for the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade,  3rd Infantry Division and Operations Officer for the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.  In January 2001, Maj Schafer was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

In July 2001, Lt Col Schafer reported as the Operations Officer, 3rd Battlefield Coordination Detachment of the 8th Army Combined/Joint Operations Center in Osan, South Korea.  In July 2002, Lt Col Schafer received orders to report to Fort Carson, Colorado as the Battalion Commander 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division.  In March 2003, Lt Col Schafer deployed from Fort Carson in support of  Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Division Staff Officer and Infantry Battalion Commander, 4thInfantry Division.  The 4th Infantry Division arrived in Kuwait and conducted combat operations through Baghdad to Tikrit.  Lt Col Schafer took command of 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, and for the next 9 months conducted combat operations from two forward operating bases, and focused on the city of Hawija and surrounding towns.  He was awarded the 4th Infantry Division Right Shoulder Combat Patch, the Combat Infantrymen’s Badge, and a Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” Device.  

In March 2004, the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry redeployed to Fort Carson, Colorado.  Lt Col Schafer transitioned the 1st Battalion into the 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment and served as the senior Infantry Battalion Observer Controller at the Joint Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  In June 2006, Lt Col Schafer attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, DC.  He was promoted to Colonel in May 2007, and graduated in June 2007 with a Master’s of Science Degree in National Resources Strategy.  In July 2007, Col Schafer was transferred to the Pentagon as the Chief, Joint Training  Functional Capabilities, Operational Plans and Joint Force Development Board.  In June 2009, Col Schafer was transferred from Washington, DC to Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX as the Brigade Commander, First Army.  In June 2011, Col Schafer was transferred to the Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois, as Operations Officer, First Army, then as Chief of Staff, First Army. 

Colonel Schafer was Honorably Discharged from the US Army on October 1, 2014.  His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (Oak Leaf Cluster for 2nd award), Bronze Star Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster with 2nd award, both with Combat “V”), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (Oak Leaf Clusters for 6th award), Army Commendation Medal (Oak Leaf Clusters for 3rd award), Army Achievement Medal (Oak Leaf Clusters for 4thaward), Valorous Unit Award, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd award), Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and various Service and Campaign Medals.

On October 20, 2014, following his release from active duty, Col Schafer was hired in the Federal Civil Service position as Director of Human Resources for First Army (GS-15) at the Rock Island Arsenal which is located between the cities of Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois on the Border of Iowa; Col Schafer resides in Iowa.  On May 11, 2019, William Schaefer resigned his Federal Civil Service position.  On May 12, 2019, Col Schafer announced that he was running for U.S. Congress in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District.

Colonel Schafer has been endorsed by the Co-Chairman of Angel Families Michelle Root, the Co-Chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Pottawattamie County Jeff Jorgenson, Brigadier General Shawn Reger, USANG (Ret), Brigadier General Mark Toplikar, USANG (Ret), Major General Charles Whittington, USANG (Ret), Lieutenant General Michael Tucker, USA (Ret), Lieutenant General Mick Bednarek, USA (Ret), and the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.

Col Schafer is a member of the American Legion, a life member of the VFW, life member of the NRA, life member of the Association of the United States Infantry, and life member of the Association of the United States Army.  Bill and his wife Robin of 35 years attend the Martensdale Community Church in Martensdale, Iowa.  They have 3 adult children, Jacqueline age 34, Krystalle age 30, and Joseph age 26. 

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is pleased to endorse Col William J. Schafer, USA (Ret) who will bring to Congress his extensive experience in public policy and business skills, and common sense to better solve problems in government and represent the 3rd Congressional District of Iowa and the Republic. If you review Col Schafer’s stands on his website, you will be pleased with his policy positions; they agree with the Combat Veterans For Congress Mission Statement.  We look forward to working with Col Schafer, and are pleased that a Combat Veteran of his caliber is running for Congress.  

If you have friends, associates, or relatives who know voters in the 3rd Congressional District of Iowa, kindly pass this E-mail on to them, and ask them to support Col Schafer by working on his campaign, providing financial support for his campaign in any amount, and/or by networking with others who would be willing to support his campaign.  The military is one of the few remaining institutions producing the caliber of men and women needed to restore this nation to the greatness our Founding Fathers envisioned.  We have endorsed another Combat Veteran For Congress that General George Washington would have approved of.  He is a Combat Veteran who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount “up to and including his life.”