McCain Campaign Press Release - North Carolina Veterans Unite Behind McCain

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced the leadership of North Carolina Veterans for John McCain, a statewide grassroots organization that will work to bolster John McCain's support within North Carolina's veterans' community.

"John McCain has always fought to make sure America's veterans are treated with dignity and respect," said Statewide Veterans Chair and NC State Representative Ric Killian, Lt. Col. USAR. "But above all else North Carolina veterans support John McCain because he is the candidate who has a proven track record of putting country first and making the tough and sometimes unpopular decisions to defend our country."

Col. Quincy Collins added, "Americans know what they're getting with John McCain. John McCain is a battle-tested leader who proudly served his country for over two decades in the U.S. Navy. I got to know John well when we lived in the same cell for a year at the Hanoi Hilton and know that he is the only man in the race who has the judgment, experience and character to lead our country in these difficult times."

Today's announcement occurs in conjunction with Veterans for McCain rallies in Raleigh, Charlotte and throughout the country.

NORTH CAROLINA VETERANS FOR JOHN MCCAIN LEADERSHIP TEAM

State Chairs

Ric Killian, USAR, NC State Representative

J. Quincy Collins, Jr., Colonel, USAF (Ret.)

Statewide Steering Committee

Ernest D Brockman, Jr., U.S. Army

Lou Huddleston, U.S. Army

Timothy Johnson, U.S. Army

Gene D. Kent, U.S. Army, Past State Commander, NC Veterans of Foreign Wars

Jesse I. Ledbetter, USAF, Former NC State Senator

Robert McLeod, USCG, Past Member of Board of Directors, USCG Combat Veterans

George Quigley, U.S. Army

William W Redman, Jr., U.S. Army, Former NC State Senator

Ira Schwarz, USN

Matt Segal, USAR

Larry Stockett, U.S. Army

Mike Surles, U.S. Army, NC Coordinator, National League of POW/MIA Families

William Thurman, USAF

John Weatherly, USMCR, Former NC State Representative

Statewide Legislative Committee

State Senator Harris Blake, U.S. Army

State Senator Pete Brunstetter, USNR

State Senator Jim Forrester, USAF

State Senator Eddie Goodall, NCNG

State Senator Fletcher Hartsell, U.S. Army

State Senator Fred Smith, U.S. Army

State Representative Cary Allred, USN

State Representative John Blust, U.S. Army

State Representative Larry Brown, USN

State Representative George Cleveland, USMC

State Representative Bill Current, USN

State Representative Bill Daughtridge, NCNG

State Representative Leo Daughtry, USAF

State Representative Ken Furr, USMC

State Representative Bill McGee, NCNG

State Representative Louis Pate, USAF

State Representative Paul Stam, USMC

State Representative Tracy Walker, USAF

State Representative Roger West, USN

Statewide Veterans for McCain Members

John Ahart, USN

Trip Ashe, USAF

Charles R. Ballas, USMC

Burt E. Benson, Jr., U.S. Army

Fred Douglas Biddy, USAF

William Bostic, USN

Frederick W. Bowen III, USMC

Robert H. Bridges, U.S. Army

Gary Brown, NCNG

Bob Carruth, U.S. Army

David R. Clark, U.S. Army

Rollins I. Collins, U.S. Army

A. Wayne Covington, USAF

George W. Cowles, USN

David L. Craig, USNR

Daniel Crockett, U.S. Army

T ed Curtis, USAF

Stephen L. Davidson, U.S. Army

Alvin W. Dobbs, USN

Jeffrey Michael Donaldson, U.S. Army

John C. Donaldson, USN

E.E. (Ed) Erb III, USN

Ronald W. Fields, U.S. Army

Bernie Funck, U.S. Army

Kevin R. Gobble, USN

Euell "Buzz" Griggs, USAF

Robert C. Guillot, Jr., U.S. Army

Ron Harwood, NCNG

Granville E. Hearn, Sr., U.S. Army

Debra Holloman, USN

Jim Holmes, U.S. Army

Gordon B. Hughes, USN

James Boyce Hunter, USMC

Kate Kohler, U.S. Army

Paul Kramer, USNR

Kevin Krantz, U.S. Army

Stan E. LaFlamme, U.S. Army

Thomas R. Mahala, USAF

John L. Martin, USAF

Edward Maslanka, USNR

Henry Nicholson, Jr., USAF

Charles S. Patrick, USN

L. Gaye Patterson, U.S. Army

Fran Perez-Wilhite, U.S. Army

Robert Reder, USAF

Wayne Rogers, USNR

Suzanne Rucker, U.S. Army

Tinsley Rucker, U.S. Army

Karen A. Rupp-Urbanski, USAF

Lisa M. Schwartz, U.S. Army

Bob Skiver, USMA

Larry R. Smith, U.S. Army

Dan Soucek, U.S. Army

Roger W. Sturm, USAF

John F. Sullivan, Jr., USAF

Oscar Timothy Sussman, USN

R. David Tilley, U.S. Army

Jessie Torres, USMC

John W. Turner, U.S. Army

James (Jim) Van Strien, U.S. Army

William McBrayer Wood, USAF

Trent C. Woodfin, U.S. Army

Sarah N. Woodfin, U.S. Army

John C. Woodruff, U.S. Army

Bobby Wooten, USMC