148 Military Brass and Veteran Luminaries Endorse John Kerry for Commander-in-Chief
Kerry Edwards Campaign Announces Veterans National Steering Committee

Las Vegas, NV--The Kerry-Edwards campaign today announced its National Veterans for Kerry Steering Committee.  Co-chairman Edward Baca, a lieutenant general and the former Chief of the National Guard Bureau, made the announcement in Las Vegas in advance of John Kerry’s Thursday address to the General Conference and Exhibition of the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), saying “the strength of this National Steering Committee speaks to the confidence and commitment of America’s military brass, veteran leaders and decorated soldiers that John Kerry will make a strong Commander-in-Chief.”

The committee includes veteran luminaries: generals, admirals, former VSO commanders, Medal of Honor winners, and elected officials from both the Democratic and Republican parties.   

“John Kerry has not only served in battle for our country, he has shown resolve in ensuring that our veterans get the support they deserve after they leave the battlefield,” said Baca.  “While Bush has been figuring out ways to cut funding for veterans health, John Kerry has been working to streamlines veterans’ health care and end the unfair disability tax that hurts those who need help the most.

The National Veterans for Kerry Steering Committee comprises 38 federally elected officials, 37 generals and admirals, 11 former National Commanders of Veteran Service Organizations, and 6 non-commissioned officers.  These individuals are joined by many Prisoners of War and honored veterans from wars in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.  Senator Kerry's crewmates and Swift Boat veterans will also serve on the steering committee, along with members of Easy Company and Tuskegee Airmen.

Baca is joined on the committee by co-chairpersons Claudia Kennedy and Senator Daniel Inouye.  Kennedy is the first and only woman to have earned the flag rank of lieutenant general in the U.S. Army, serving for 31 years.  She is one of 12 women on the steering committee.  Inouye, a seven-term Senator from Hawaii, earned the Congressional Medal of Honor with the U.S. Army in 1945 while leading his platoon in Italy. 

Among other military leaders co-chairing this committee are: retired Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark, former Senator Bob Kerrey, General Tony McPeak, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and William Crowe, Medal of Honor recipients Paul Bucha and Hershel "Woody" Williams, former Senator Max Cleland, and Congressman Charles Rangel.

The co-chairs are committed to sharing John Kerry’s vision to win the peace in Iraq and his plan to assure that American soldiers won’t make up 90 percent of the casualties and American tax payers will not bear 90 percent of the burden for this war.

Senator Kerry also has detailed a plan to provide assistance to those who have put their lives on the line in battle.  Kerry’s Military Family Bill of Rights would ensure that all military reservists have health care.

These committed veterans will join the 50 Kerry Edwards veterans state coordinators in organizing 1 million veterans nationwide to elect a John Kerry a combat veteran with a plan to put America’s soldiers first in the White House.