I was a young US Navy Nurse from 1966-69, first serving at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. I took care of Marines and Navy personnel just back from the battlefield, including during the TET offensive when a few arrived with boots still on. Philadelphia was the amputee center for the Eastern US.
Veterans and their families know that the experience of war doesn’t end when the shooting stops—and Jesse Colvin knows that too. I’ve met him on several occasions and among the first things he brings up is treatment of our veterans. I could not be more impressed.
Colvin’s words: “when as a Country we send folks to war, there’s a 50-70 year obligation on the back-end to mend broken bones, mental trauma, and all the ripple effects that entire families shoulder when their veteran returns home.” I know that is the truth, having lived with my own traumas from nursing those battle-wounded men 50 years ago.
For those who do not know, Jesse is a former Army Ranger intelligence officer who served 4 combat tours in Afghanistan—and a tour at the DMZ in Korea. (Jesse’s wife, a Republican, runs a non-profit dedicated to helping vets recovering from PTS, traumatic brain injuries, and military sexual trauma.)
Jesse always wears a bracelet for a fellow Ranger who was killed in action in Afghanistan. He says it’s a reminder of the human cost of war and the inherent obligation to remember and honor those sacrifices. No doubt that’s why he’s also firmly committed to avoid reckless wars of choice, such as is threatened again on the Korean peninsula.
I know I am not the only veteran who appreciates Colvin’s service and his dedication to fight for the interest of every vet. I just read that he has been endorsed by VoteVets, the largest and most influential veterans organization in the nation, by General Wes Clarke, the former NATO commander, and by former Congressman Wayne Gilchrist, a Marine and Vietnam veteran.
Plus, the former Ranger non-commissioned officer who was Colvin’s deputy during two tours in Afghanistan just came up from Georgia to manage his campaign. If an officer can engender that level of trust and respect from his enlisted ranks, he’s the man I want representing me in Washington.
Vote for Jesse Colvin for Congress.
Brenda Stone
Easton, MD
Hugh (Jock) Beebe says
Letter to Editor Talbot Spy
The first time I met Jesse Colvin was several months ago at a neighborhood informal gathering in a private Eastern Shore home. Attracted by an email offering a chance to meet the candidate personally, I went wondering what to expect because of never being an active participant in any political campaign during over 50 years of voting in US elections.
Jesse Colvin’s speech about himself and why he was motivated to run for US Congressional Representative from the 1st District of Maryland was plainly spoken with humility and yet powerful effect because what it revealed about his life up to the present moment.
He enlisted in the Army and went through the famously tough infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia becoming a lieutenant followed by further challenges in graduating from Army Ranger training, the Army’s combat graduate school. Later in conversation with him he quickly figured out that we were alumni who both had survived infantry OCS during war time although 51 years apart. He joked and said, “Probably I was in the very same barracks as you.”
His career reveals a pattern of distinguished achievement including leadership experience in combat during 4 deployments in Afghanistan where others depended on him for life and death decisions every day. Then again pursing more training, and embarking on a rapidly successful business career in the center of American commerce.
So, I asked him why he had left all that to run for the US Congress? His answer was typically direct, brief and right on point, “I was upset with the way our country was going, so I needed to try to do something about that.”
Of course, I thought, this is a person who runs at the problem not away from it. It’s just like Fort Benning OCS, its motto is “Follow Me,” and being a Ranger earning their trust to lead troops in combat. And being recognized by a large New York business firm as having the skills to lead an effort to uncover and stop fraud.
Yes, Brenda Stone, I agree, you’re not the only veteran who appreciates Jesse Colvin. We can see that he exemplifies qualities greatly needed in our government now. This is a person whose quiet strength and understanding proves that problem solving works best when actions speak louder than words.