I'll take Jim Webb exactly as he is."He could have appeared on national TV to condemn Sen. Allen's comments or barnstormed across Virginia to promote his image as a Virginia leader; Webb could have taken steps to potentially cripple Sen. Allen's campaign in these very early days," writes Bearing Drift, Hampton Roads' conservative blogger. "Instead, what has Jim Webb done the last two weeks? Apparently he went to Colorado. He also continued his elite "kitchen cabinet" meetings of 10-12 people. And, oh, he's opening his campaign headquarters here tomorrow. Yay."
Yeah, Webb went to Colorado...
On Aug. 25-27, Jim Webb traveled to Boulder, Colorado to be honored by one of the nation's most historic veterans organizations. The 1st Marine Division Association is made up of Marine veterans from the World War II era through the current Iraq war where Marines of the 1st Division comprise approximately half of the combat forces in Iraq. They hailed Webb as "one of the great leaders of the Vietnam generation."
The 1st Marine Division is the Marine Corps+óGé¼Gäó oldest and most decorated combat unit. Formed in 1941, the division first fought at Guadalcanal in 1942 during World War II, and also fought in the historic battles of Peleliu and Okinawa. During the Korean War the Division became famous for the Inchon landing, and the fabled breakout of a Chinese Army encirclement at the Chosin Reservoir. It lost more than 6,000 Marines dead in Vietnam, and saw action in the Persian Gulf War, as well as today+óGé¼Gäós war in Iraq.
Webb, a member of the association, served with the division+óGé¼Gäós 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, in the infamous An Hoa Basin of Vietnam. Operating as a rifle platoon and company commander during some of the war+óGé¼Gäós most intense combat, Webb was awarded the Navy Cross, Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts for his valor and combat leadership.
Webb spoke on Friday at the opening memorial ceremony and at a luncheon of 1st Marine Division Reconnaissance veterans. On Saturday he spoke at a ceremony honoring those Marines of the 1st battalion, 5th Marine regiment who were killed in combat in Vietnam. Before an audience of nearly 1,000 Marine veterans on Saturday evening, Webb delivered the keynote address at the reunion+óGé¼Gäós dinner banquet that evening, receiving a standing ovation.
At the memorial service on Sunday, Webb honored the service of the division+óGé¼Gäós fallen Marines. "I+óGé¼Gäóve been saying since I was 23 that those of us who went through this experience and lost friends on the battlefield have a special obligation to our friends and comrades who never made it home. We should renew our energy to try to live a better life, because those others never got the chance to get married, pursue a career, have kids, and speak their minds about the direction our country is heading,+óGé¼-¥ Webb said.
Webb also emphasized the sacrifice of all who have served. +óGé¼+ôAll of you,+óGé¼-¥ he said to the 500 veterans at Fort Logan National Cemetery, +óGé¼+ôstepped forward and demonstrated a willingness to risk your lives on behalf of your country. Having done so, for the rest of your lives, you must answer in your honor to no one.+óGé¼-¥
(excerpts from Webb press releases here and here.)
And oh, yeah... on August 16th Webb delivered a National Security Address before the Kiwanis Club. Yesterday, he opened his HQ in Richmond to a crowd of over 300 and today, his HQ in Virginia Beach and spoke at the Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council Convention in Virginia Beach. On August 18-20, Jim Webb spent the weekend in Southwest Virginia where his great-grandparents settled in the 18th century. He stayed with family in Gate City. Friday in Wise County, Webb attended the VA-KY District Fair and Horse Show. In Dickerson County on Saturday, Webb attended a VFW District meeting, and on Sunday, the Roanoke Valley Gun Show.
Jim Webb is exactly the kind of man I want representing me in the United States Senate.
I really do not have a passion for war history, but somehow this book captures a little bit of the feeling of the ground level in WWII island combat.
At my dad's funeral in 2001 another Marine from Guadalcanal showed up, and that was the first time I had ever met the guy. Talk about semper fi... these were just a couple of anonymous grunts.
Before that the US military was made up largely of state militias. The standing army was very small and not designated by division. (There are certainly regiments that predate the current named division.)
Correct me if I am wrong, but the 1st marine is not the oldest Division, but it could be the oldest Marine Division.
I bet there is a good chance he/she is a member of that tough and ready 101st keyboard division that is winning the war on "tear" safely behind his PC with the freedoms for which Jim Webb fought and bled!
If I don't hate these people, I sure as hell loathe them!
But then, to Jim Webb, the ordinary voters of the Commonwealth deserve the same access to public officials that far too often is limited to the big contributors, who buy access for their business and other interests.
So whether or not you were at a kitchen table with Jim, or perhaps - as have I - had a conversation over a beer, or just give some time, effort, and a wee bit of money in support of the campaign of a candidate overflowing with integrity, to Jim you are the equal of anyone -- that is the best kind of elite. And if Jim sits down with you -- in the kitchen or elsewhere -- he will listen to what you have to say, and dialog with you until he understands.
So maybe that's the secret - in or out of the kitchen, we are all part of the elite to whom Jim at least is willing to listen.
Now I have to go back to being ordinary and correct some school papers.