DeSantis Campaign Press Release - Iowa Veterans Join Ron DeSantis National Veterans Coalition as Leadership Chairs

Tallahassee, FL - Ron DeSantis launched his National Veterans Coalition this week and Iowa veterans are lining up to join as Leadership Chairs in the Hawkeye State. Additionally, over 50 veterans have already joined the coalition in Hawkeye State.

The announcement follows the plan to support America's veterans that DeSantis released on Thursday. DeSantis will modernize the VA and transcend its bureaucracy, combat the mental health and economic issues facing veterans, expand access and benefits to veterans, reverse Biden's recruitment crisis, and restore accountability to the VA.

"Governor DeSantis is the only veteran in the presidential race, and it shows. He is a decisive leader and does what he says he will do. We need a Commander-in-Chief, who has experience with the military during these turbulent times." – Representative John Wills, First Sergeant, Army

"Having served in times of conflict myself in Iraq as a Marine, I understand what it takes to lead. Governor DeSantis answered the call to service when our nation needed him. Now America is seeking a leader who can deliver and I fully believe that Ron DeSantis, who has worn our nation's flag proudly in battle, is the right person at the right time to lead not only our nation to prosperity but the free world as well." – House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, Sergeant, Marines

Iowa Veteran Coalition Leadership Chairs include:

Senator Jeff Reichman, Lieutenant Colonel, Marines
Iraq War Veteran
House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, Sergeant, Marines
Iraq Campaign Medal
Speaker Pro Tem John Wills, First Sergeant, Army (Ret.)
Bronze Star
Afghanistan War Veteran
Iraq War Veteran
Representative Steve Holt, 1stSGT (E-8), Marines (Ret.)
Multiple Overseas Deployments
Representative Matthew Rinker, Master-at-Arms 1st Class, Navy
Iraq War Veteran
House Majority Whip Henry Stone, Master Sergeant, Air Force (Ret.)
Deployed to the Middle East four times
Served four additional tours overseas
Representative Phil Thompson, Staff Sergeant (SSG), Army
Iraq War Veteran
Ron DeSantis stands out as the only veteran on either side of the aisle in the 2024 presidential race. After watching the Twin Towers collapse in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, DeSantis felt called to serve. After graduating from Harvard Law School, he volunteered to join the US Navy and later volunteered to deploy to Iraq alongside SEAL Team One as a JAG officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.

Veterans interested in joining the coalition or learning more can do so by clicking here.

List of Iowa Veterans for DeSantis as of 10/20/2023:

Daniel Barnett, Senior Airman, Air Force
Richard Bice, Sergeant, Army
Stephen Bisenius, E-5, Army
Ray Boosinger, Colonel, Air Force (RET.)
Shawn Bryant, Master Sergeant, Iowa Army National Guard
Dan Bryant, Sergeant, Army
Anthony Cosentino, Sergeant First Class (SFC), Iowa Army National Guard (RET.)
Louie DeRoos, Sergeant First Class (E-7), Army
Josh Diamond, PFC, Marines
David Dines, E-7, Air Force
Michael Dommer, Major, Army
Mark Dowell, Sergeant, Air Force
Jeffrey Durham, Chief, Navy (RET.)
Al Giese, Specialist, Army
Ed Grant, Sp5, Army
Mark Grinhaug, E-4, Army
Conrad Hall, 82nd Airborne
Lucas Halverson, Specialist, Iowa Army National Guard
Jerald Hansen, Master Sergeant, Army
Gabriel Haugland, Major, Retired, US Army
Representative Steven Holt, 1stSG (E-8), Marines
John Hyde, Specialist, Army
Kevin Johnson, Major, Army National Guard
Richard Keilig Jr, Lt. Colonel, Army
Wayne Kreutner, Staff Sergeant, Air Force
Rich Marriott, E-2, Navy
Jack McConnell, E-5, Army
Whitney Smith McIntosh, Army
John Muenster, E-5, Navy
Thomas Oakleaf, Sergeant, Marines
Clayton Ohrt, Petty Officer, Navy
Senator Jeff Reichman, Lieutenant Colonel, Marines
Representative Matthew Rinker, Master-at-Arms 1st Class, Navy
Lou Rogers, Staff Sergeant (E-6), Marines (RET.)
Roger Rowland, Sergeant (E-4), Air Force
Steve Rubin, E-4, Navy
Brandon Schnathorst, Staff Sergeant (E-5), Air Force
Ron Slagle, Staff Sergeant, Air Force
Scott Sokol, Lance Corporal, Marines
House Majority Whip Henry Stone, Master Sergeant, Air Force
Representative Phil Thompson, Staff Sergeant (SSG), Army
John Thompson, E-5, Army
Charlie Thompson, 1LT, Army
Matthew Thompson, SSG, Army
John Thompson, CPT, Army
Bob Van Horn, Ensign, Navy
Former Representative Guy Vander Linden, Brigadier General, Marines
Jim Varner, E-7, Navy SEAL (RET.)
Tony Vola, O-5, Air Force
Ted Weaver, Captain, Army
Bruce Westphal, Private, Army
Representative John Wills, First Sergeant, Army
House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, Sergeant, Marines