Green Bay, WI (WFRV) One Wisconsin man knows the possible dangers of serving your country overseas. Mark Green served as U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania. He was nominated to the position by President George W. Bush in 2007

For 15 months, Mark Green and his family lived overseas in the African nation of Tanzania, serving as the voice of the U.S. government. Green says the work was extremely rewarding, but also  inherently dangerous.

"It's a tragedy - it's a tremendous loss," said Mark Green, former U.S. Ambassador  to Tanzania. "I'm outraged as everyone in America should be.  All those involved must be brought to justice."

These were the reactions of Green after learning of the death of Chris Stevens,  the U.S. Ambassador to Libya,  killed during an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya

"I didn't know Ambassador Stevens personally, but by all accounts he was a great diplomat doing great work in a hard part of the world."   

The former 8th District congressman knows well the dangers of serving overseas as a diplomat.  In Aug. 2007, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Ambassador to Tanzania, where nine years earlier embassies in Tanzania and Kenya were destroyed in bombings connected to Osama Bin Laden. The explosions took over 200 lives.

"We were very cognizant of the risks that are out there."

"Ambassadors are out on the front lines in so many parts of the world.  They are an extension of the American people and a voice for the American people  and in order to do that, sadly it puts you in situations like this." .

Green said Stevens would be the first to say his position as a diplomat  was dangerous,  but the rewards of building new relationships and advancing the cause of freedom outweighed all possible risks.

"I think these diplomats and their staff were courageous. They know they were in a tough place. We certainly salute their courage. They are great Americans."

Green resigned from his post as Ambassador after Barack Obama was inaugurated president.  He served as U.S. Representative of the 8th Congressional District for 8 years.