Group Of Military Veterans Endorse Wamp For Governor

Chatanoogan.com-A group of Tennessee’s military veterans and heroes announced their support for Zach Wamp in his campaign for governor.

The “Veterans for Zach Wamp Leadership Team” will serve in an advisory role to Rep. Wamp on state veterans and Tennessee National Guard issues, it was stated.      

The Wamp campaign said, "Leaders on the committee are already actively building a strong grassroots network of veterans and their family members, as well as the families and members of the Tennessee Army National Guard, Tennessee Air National Guard and the Tennessee State Guard, who are strongly supporting Zach in local counties and communities all across the state."

“Our next governor will be the Commander-in-Chief of the Tennessee National Guard, and no one has been more supportive or better understands the issues important to veterans, their families and the National Guard than Zach Wamp,” said Major General Dan Wood, Vietnam Veteran and former Tennessee Adjutant General. “For this reason I am proud to be a co-chair of the Veterans Leadership Team. We are proud not only to support Zach, but we intend to do all we can to help others learn why Zach Wamp will be such an outstanding Governor for Tennessee.”

Joining him as co-chairs of the “Veterans for Zach Wamp Leadership Team” are Four-Star Army General (ret.) Carl Stiner of LaFollette; Navy Admiral (ret.) Vance Fry of Chattanooga; Army Major General (ret.) Bill Raines of Chattanooga; Marine LTC (ret.) Fred Tucker of Nashville, who is also a former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs; Army Lieutenant General (ret.) Don Rodgers of Chattanooga; and Army Technical Sergeant (ret.) Charles Coolidge of Signal Mountain, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Other “Veterans for Zach Wamp” include former Army Sergeant Durward Swanson of Maryville, the past president of the National Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and former Navy Captain John Lynch Jr. of Whitewood, the national director of the Navy League of the United States.

“I’m honored and grateful to have the support of these true Tennessee heroes and patriots,” Rep. Wamp said. “The men and women who currently serve in our Armed Forces — and all of our veterans who served before them – as well as their family members who supported them — are among our greatest Americans. No group is more important to the safety and security of our state and nation. They deserve every ounce of our appreciation, support and gratitude.”

Rep. Wamp said today’s “Veterans for Zach Wamp” group "is just the first of several key coalition groups that are already coalescing around our grassroots campaign for governor." He said more announcements will follow soon.

“Zach has truly been a friend to every veteran across this state,” said Dan L. Hardin of Memphis, who served as a SP4 in the US Army in Vietnam. “He has worked tirelessly in Washington through the years in support of our military and on veteran’s issues. Now we are pleased that Zach is offering that same vision, strength and leadership on all of the issues important to Tennessee.”

Veterans for Zach Wamp Leadership Team Co-Chairs:

Technical Sergeant Charles Coolidge, United States Army (Ret.)

Charles Coolidge joined the Army from his birth city of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, and by October 24, 1944 was serving as a technical sergeant in Company M, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. During an enemy attack on that day and the following three days, east of Belmont-sur-Buttant in France, Coolidge assumed command of his group and showed conspicuous leadership. For his actions during the battle, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in July 1945.

Rear Admiral Vance Fry, United States Navy (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Vance H. Fry is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee and a graduate of Central High School. He was graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1960 and commissioned in the regular Navy. He served a total of 35 years wearing the uniform as an active/reserve officer. Admiral Fry specialized in financial management and logistics during his Navy career, serving as commanding officer for units in Huntsville, Atlanta, Charleston, and Norfolk. Upon selection to Admiral in 1987 he assumed command of the Navy’s Cargo Handling Force. After participating in Desert Storm, in which 8 of the 14 cargo handling battalions were mobilized, he was selected to lead the Naval Reserve component in the Washington D. C. Victory Parade in May 1991. He later commanded the newly established Expeditionary Logistics Support Force.

Major General Bill Raines, United States Army (Ret.)

William B. Raines, Jr., retired as a Major General in the Army Reserves after almost 32 years of services. His last assignment was to the Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) in Norfolk, Virginia as the Vice-Director of Strategy, Requirements and Integration (J8V). His prior assignment was as Deputy Commanding General, 125th U.S. Army Reserve Command in Nashville, Tennessee. With almost 32 years of military service, he served in many important positions on active duty and in the Army Reserve. After leaving active duty, General Raines held numerous assignments within the 3397th U.S. Army Reserve Garrison in Chattanooga, TN and the 125th ARCOM Headquarters in Nashville, TN. General Raines returned to active duty during Operations Desert Shield/Storm where he served as the Commander of the 3397th USAR Garrison from Chattanooga at Fort Campbell, Kentucky during the period August 1990 to September 1991. General Raines has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with Service Star, and the Parachutist Badge.

Lieutenant General Thurman D. Rodgers, United States Army (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Don Rodgers is a Vietnam veteran with 34 years of service. General Rodgers was promoted to Brigadier General in July 1981 and was awarded his second star in 1983 and was advanced to Lieutenant General in June 1986. His awards and decorations include the Army’s Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, French “Order of National Merit,” several Viet Nam awards, the Joint Chief of Staff Identification Badge, the Army General Staff Identification Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Parachutist Badge.

General Carl Stiner, United States Army (Ret.)

During his distinguished thirty-five year career, General Stiner commanded the Army’s preeminent contingency strike forces; including the Joint Special Operations Command, the 82nd Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps. General Stiner has an extensive background in special operations. Among the many missions in which he was involved was the capture of the terrorists in the Achille Lauro hijacking, the Panama invasion and the capture of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, and all special operations activities during Operation Desert Storm. General Stiner has been awarded two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merits, a Purple Heart, three Meritorious Service Medals , sixteen Air Medals, and eleven Army Commendation Medals.

LTC Fred Tucker, United States Marine Corp (Ret.)

LTC Fred Tucker is the former Commissioner of Veterans Affairs for the state of Tennessee, a retired Marine Corps officer, combat veteran of the Dominican Republic and two tours in Vietnam. He served in the enlisted and warrant officer ranks prior to being commissioned to Vietnam in December 1965. He has been a leader in veteran’s activities since 1978.

Major General Jackie D. Wood, Tennessee National Guard (Ret.)

Major General Jackie Dan Wood was the 73rd Adjutant General of Tennessee. Appointed to the state’s top military position by Governor Don Sundquist in 1995, he was responsible for the supervision of the Military Department of Tennessee that includes the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and the Tennessee State Guard. General Wood enlisted in the United States Army in 1961 and later served one tour of duty as a Sergeant (E-5) in Vietnam. After completing his active duty tour and a short tour of duty in the United States Army Reserve, he enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard in 1965. He completed Officer Candidate School at Tennessee Military Academy. General Wood served in a variety of staff and leadership assignments in the Tennessee Army National Guard to include Executive Officer, 473rd Support Battalion; Commander, 4/117th Infantry, and was serving as Deputy Director, Plans, Operations and Training, State Area Command before his appointment as Adjutant General.

Veterans for Zach Wamp Leadership Team:

Seaman Walter Carlson, US Navy/US Merchant Marines – Decaturville
E-6 Staff Sergeant Donna Gottz, US Army – Bristol
SP4 Dan L. Hardin, US Army – Memphis
Brigadier General Pat Harrison, US Army – Brentwood
Staff Sergeant Bill King, US Marines – Troy
Brigadier General Carl Levi (ret.), US Army – Chattanooga
Colonel Dan Lindsey, US Army – Nashville
Captain John Lynch Jr., US Navy – Whitewood
Sergeant Gerald McCormick, US Army – Chattanooga
Staff Sergeant Ed Meyer, US Air Force – Norris
Sergeant Major Charlie Peavyhouse, US Army/US Army Reserve – Hixson
First Sergeant David Perry, US Marines – Maryville
Corporal Charlie Richardson, US Marines – Chattanooga
Dr. Wayne Shearer, Colonel, US Air Force (ret.) – Hixson
Sergeant Durward Swanson, US Army Air Forces, US Air Force – Maryville