McCain Campaign Press Release - Retired Generals and Admirals Endorse John McCain for President

DES MOINES, IA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that Iowans Major General Evan "Curly" Hultman, USA (Ret.); Brigadier General Russ Eggers, USAF (Ret.); Major General Merrill Evans, USA (Ret.); Brigadier General Maurice Phillips, USA (Ret.); Brigadier General W.L. "Bill" Wallace, USA (Ret.); and Major General Gary Wattnem, USA (Ret.), along with nearly 250 retired generals and admirals from around the country are endorsing John McCain for president. The retired generals and admirals signed the following letter of endorsement of John McCain's candidacy:

We have had the honor and privilege of serving as career officers in the United States Armed Forces, and of serving shoulder to shoulder with so many of the fine young men and women who are the backbone of America's Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. It is that experience that informs our judgment that John McCain is the presidential candidate best suited to serve as America's Commander-in Chief from the day of his inauguration.

Our next president will confront national security challenges as significant as those faced by any administration in at least a generation. Success will require a leader with proven tenacity, judgment and courage. It will also require a leader with detailed knowledge of our military and other instruments of national power, and with years of experience dealing seriously with foreign leaders.

John McCain's entire life has been devoted to the service of America. Throughout a long and distinguished career in the military and in Congress, he has repeatedly displayed the courage and integrity to place America's interests first -- regardless of personal cost. And he has demonstrated the experience and wisdom to lead America -- and, importantly, our allies -- in effectively dealing with complex and vitally important national security challenges around the world.

We unequivocally endorse him to continue his service to the country as the next President of the United States.

Brigadier General Patrick O.Adams, USAF (Ret.)

Major General Albert B. Akers, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Paul Albritton, USA (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Richard Allen, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral James F. Amerault, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Vincent J.Anzilotti, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General John "Doc" Bahnsen, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Barausky, USN (Ret.)

Major General Barry D. Bates, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Charles L. Bishop, USAF (Ret.)

Major General John Blatsos, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Harry Blot, USMC (Ret.)

Major General John L. Borling USAF (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Mike Bowman, III, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Roger Box, USN (Ret.)

Major General Patrick Brady, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Bruce Bremner, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Jeremiah Brophy, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Thomas Brown, III, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Richa rd A. Browning, USAF (Ret.)

Brigadier General Tom Bruner, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Lyle Bull, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral E.A. Burkhalter, Jr. USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Jay Campbell, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Jim Carey, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Jimmy Cash, USAF (Ret.)

Major General George Cates, USMC (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Steve Chadwick, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Steve Clarey, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Albert P. Clark, USAF (Ret.)

Brigadier General Clifton "Tip" Clark, USAF (Ret.)

Brigadier General Wes Clark, USAF (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Edward Clexton, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Richard A. Coleman, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Leroy Collins, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General John B. Conaway, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Ralph Cook, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Matthew T. "Terry" Cooper, USMC (Ret.)

Major General Mike Coyne, USMC (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Howard Crowell, Jr., USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Robert Dastin, USAF (Ret.)

General James B. Davis, USAF (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Walter J. Davis, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Major General Hollis Davidson, USMC (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Kevin Delaney, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Jerry Denton, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Frank Donovan, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Bill Dougherty, USN (Ret.)

Major Genera l George Douglas, USAF (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Richard M. Dunleavy, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Robert F. Dunn, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral James W. Eastwood, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral James E. Eckelberger, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Russ Eggers, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Paul Engel, USN (Ret.)

Major General Bill Eshelman, USMC (Ret.)

Major General Merrill Evans, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral James H. Flatley, III, USN (Ret.)

Admiral S. Robert Foley, USN (Ret.)

Major General Stuart French, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Ronne Froman, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Vance Fry, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Robert Byron Fuller, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Skip Furlong, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Barton Gilbert, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Wendell Gilbert, USA (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Hank Giffin, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Andrew Giordano, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Russell W. Gorman, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Thomas N. Griffin, USA (Ret.)

Major General Jeffery R. Grime, USAF (Ret.)

Brigadier General Tom Hall, USAF (Ret.)

Admiral Ronald J. Hays, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Rolland Heiser, USA (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Dick Herr, USCG (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Robert P. Hickey, USN (Ret.)

Major General Geoffrey Higginbotham, USMC (R et.)

Major General Don Hilbert, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Virgil Hill, USN (Ret.)

Major General Kent Hillhouse, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Edward J. "Ned" Hogan, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral A. Byron Holderby, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Grant T. Hollett, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Admiral James L. Holloway, USN (Ret.)

General Charles A. "Chuck" Horner, USAF (Ret.)

Major General James Hourin, USAF (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Jefferson D. Howell, USMC (Ret.)

Lieutenant General John I. Hudson, USMC (Ret.)

Vice Admiral James D. Hull, USN (Ret.)

Major General Evan Hultman, USA (Ret.)

Major General Charles Ingram, USA (Ret.)

Admiral Bobby R. Inman, USN (Ret.)

Major General Harry Jenkins, USMC (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Ronald H. Jesberg, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Gregory G. "Grog" Johnson, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Jerome Johnson, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral J. Michael "Carlos" Johnson, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Steve Kantrowitz, USNR (Ret.)

V ice Admiral Douglas Katz, USN (Ret.)

General P.X. Kelley, USMC (Ret.)

Admiral Robert J. "Barney" Kelly, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Frank B. Kelso II, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral John Kerr, USNR (Ret.)

Major General Phillip G. Killey, USAF (Ret.)

Admiral George "Gus" Kinnear, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Jack W. Klimp, USMC (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Hal Koenig, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Alexander J. Krekich, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Ed Kristensen, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Derald Lary, USAF (Ret.)

Admiral Charles R. "Chuck" Larson, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Rufus C. Lazzell, USA (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Tony Less, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Frederick L. Lewis, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Frank Libutti, USMC (Ret.)

Brigadier General William Lindaman, USAF (Ret.)

General James J. Lindsay, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant General James E. Livingston, USMC (Ret.)

Rear Admiral James W. Lisanby, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Stephen Loftus, USN (Ret.)

General John Michael Loh, USAF (Ret.)

Admiral Joseph Lopez, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Mike Luecke, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch, USN (Ret.)

Admiral James "Ace" Lyons, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Michael D. Malone, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Daniel P. March, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Edward H. Martin, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral John J. Mazach, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral William "Scot" McCauley, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Fred McCorkle, USMC (Ret.)

Major General Billy McCoy, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Bill McDaniel, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Craig O. McDonald, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Denny McGinn, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Kinnard R. McKee, USN (Ret.)

Major General Ed Mechanbier, USAFR (Ret.)

Rear Admiral George Meinig, USN (Ret.)

Major General Robert L. Menist, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral William F. Merlin, USCG (Ret.)

Admiral Paul David Miller, USN (Ret.)

Major General Robert W. Mixon, Jr., USA (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Joseph Mobley, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Patrick D. Moneymaker, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Benjamin Montoya, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Charles J. Moore, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Douglas Moore, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Major General Walter Moore, USA (Ret.)

Major General Warren Moore, USAF (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Jo seph P. Moorer, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Paul Moses, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Paul Mulloy, USN (Ret.)

Major General William L. Mundie, USA (Ret.)

General Carl E. Mundy, Jr., USMC (Ret.)

Major General Terry Murray, USMC (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Hank Mustin, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Jack Natter, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Jerry Neff, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Mike Neil, USMCR (Ret.)

Brigadier General Warren "Bud" Nelson, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Ed Nelson, USCG (Ret.)

Brigadier General Eddie Newman, USA (Ret.)

Major General George W. Norwood, USAF (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Ira C. "Chuck" Owens, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Robert S. "Rupe" Owens, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Robert Pashon, USAF (Ret.)

Major General Earl G. Peck, USAF (Ret.)

Major General John Peppers, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Maurice Phillips, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral David Polatty, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Thomas J. Porter, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Noel G. Preston, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Joseph W. Prueher, USN (Ret.)

Major General Bill Raines, USAR (Ret.)

Vice Admiral William E. Ramsey, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral William Retz, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Jon A. Reynolds, USAF (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Thomas M. Rienzi, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Steve Ritchie, USAF (Ret.)

Vice Admiral David B. Robinson, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Wayne Rosenthal, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Pete Rots, USCG (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Ed Rowny, USA (Ret.)

Major General Michael D. Ryan, USMC (Ret.)

Vice Admiral John R. Ryan, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Jim Schear, USN R (Ret.)

Brigadier General Dennis Schulstad, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Hugh Scott, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral James E. Service, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Bill Shawcross, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Edward D. "Ted" Sheafer, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Mike Sheridan, USMC (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Robert F. "Dutch" Shoultz, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Robert H. Shumaker, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Norman Smith, USMC (Ret.)

Major General Richard D. Smith, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Robert (Bob) Smith, III, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Leighton "Snuffy" Smith, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Stan Smith, USAF (Ret.)

Major General J.R. Spalding, USAF (Ret.)

Major General Stanhop S. Spears, Adjutant General of South Carolina

Major General Ralph Spraker, USAF (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Hank Stackpole, USMC (Ret.)

Rear Admiral James Stark, USN (Ret.)

General Carl Stiner, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Bob Sutton, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Jeremy Taylor, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Jimmie Taylor, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Deese Thompson, USCG (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Howie Thorsen, USCG (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Ernest E. Tissot, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Robert F. Titus, USAF (Ret.)

Vice Admiral John B. Totushek, USN (Ret.)

Major General Rockly Triantafellu, USAF (Ret.)

Admiral Carlyle A. H. Trost, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Jerry Unruh, USN (Ret.)

Major General Alfred A. "Freddie" Valenzuela, USA (Ret.)

Major General Paul Vallely, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Lloyd "Joe" Vasey, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General John Vines, USA (Ret.)

Major General John G. "Jack" Waggener, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Edw ard K. Walker, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General W.L. "Bill" Wallace, USA (Ret.)

Admiral James D. Watkins, USN (Ret.)

Major General Gary Wattnem, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Donald Weatherson, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Hugh Webster, USN (Ret.)

Major General Drax Williams, USMC (Ret.)

Lieutenant General James A. Williams, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Mitchell M. Willoughby, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Dennis Wisely, USN (Ret.)

Major General Herbert E. Wolff, USA (Ret.)

Major General John J. Womack, USA (Ret.)

Major General Dan Wood, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral George Worthington, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Earl P. Yates, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Allan R. Zenotwitz, USA (Ret.)

Admiral Ronald J. Zlatoper, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Mitchell M. Zais, USA (Ret.)