Published: September 11, 2008 01:30 pm      

Rice announces more than 100 'Veterans for Rice'

OKLAHOMA CITY — More than 100 military veterans from across Oklahoma announced their support for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Rice on Wednesday because of Rice's commitment to take care of our military both overseas and after they return home.



"As a veteran of Afghanistan, I am proud to be co-chair of the 'Veterans for Rice' steering committee," said State Sen. Tom Ivester, co-chairman of the Oklahoma Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. "Sen. Rice recognizes Washington's failure to provide all veterans the health care security they have earned. In the last eight years, Washington has cut older veterans' benefits, and they have failed to address the needs of today's new veterans."



Ivester and State Sen. Roger Ballenger, both veterans, will be the co-chairmen of the "Veterans for Rice" committee.



"I've worked with Andrew Rice in the State Senate, and I am confident he will work across party lines as a bipartisan leader in the U.S. Senate, especially when it comes to veterans issues," said Ballenger, co-chairman of the Oklahoma Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. "Sen. Rice has a proven record of putting people before politics, and I am proud to serve on the 'Veterans for Rice' steering committee."



Rice said the endorsement of so many veterans is humbling.



"I am honored to have the support of so many Oklahoma men and women who have served America so bravely," Rice said. "When elected to the U.S. Senate, I will work with both parties to get all veterans, whether they are 19 or 90, insured and put the needs of our service men and women at the front of the line."



Sen. Rice has worked in the State Senate to address the shameful circumstances that have left nearly 2 million veterans without access to health insurance. In 2008, he introduced legislation in the Oklahoma legislature to create the Oklahoma Veterans Health Insurance Program.



As United States Senator, Rice will fight to ensure that the dedication and sacrifice of our veterans are properly rewarded with full benefits for their disabilities, retirement, education, health care and employment. Rice believes that when Washington's leaders commit American troops to the battlefield, they should also be prepared to take care of our soldiers when they return home.



Unfortunately, that's not the case today. Nearly two million American veterans lack health insurance and an estimated 200,000 veterans are homeless. Thousands more have difficulty navigating a complicated system of benefits that frequently denies their claims.



As an advocate for strengthening U.S. military forces by 100,000 troops in order to meet multiple threats around the globe while protecting our freedoms here at home, Senator Rice believes that we must improve military benefits for all veterans, including those serving in the active-duty military, the National Guard and the Reserves.



Senator Rice also knows that in order to accomplish these goals, Washington will have to change its ways. He will work to put people before politics in any debate about military benefits by making a portion of Veterans Administration (VA) funding "mandatory" or automatic just like Medicare and other major government health programs. He believes that veterans have earned the right of knowing that their health care is assured.



"I believe that no veteran should be left behind," Senator Rice said earlier this year. "If we expect to sustain an all-volunteer military that will remain the most capable in the world, we should take care of our troops on the battlefield and when they return home from service."



Following is a complete list of Oklahoma Veterans for Rice.



State Senator Tom Ivester, U.S. Army (Afghanistan), Veterans for Rice Co-Chair



State Senator Roger Ballenger, U.S. Navy (Vietnam War), Veterans for Rice Co-Chair



Jimmy Abshier, U.S. Navy (Vietnam War)



Rainer Alba, U.S. Army (1968-1970)



Charles Allen, U.S. Army (1961-1964)



Jerrel Allen, U.S. Navy (1951-1956)



Ray Azadgoli, U.S. Army (2001-2007, Iraq War)



Jim Baggett, U.S. Army (1957-1965)



Ester Baltierra, U.S. Air Force/U.S. Army (1968-2000)



Russell Bates, U.S. Air Force (1964-1968)



Timothy Beauchamp, U.S. Navy (1984-1988)



Albert Bennett, U.S. Air Force (Korean War)



Elbert Bond, U.S. Army (Korean War)



Ronald Brown, U.S. Air Force (1966-1971)



Alfred Burch, U.S. Marines (World War II)



Charles Burnett, U.S. Navy (1953-1956)



Armond Burton, U.S. Navy (1953-1955)



Eugene Cagle, U.S. Army (Korean War)



Gary Cannon, U.S. Air Force (1966-1970)



Bobby Castle, U.S. Army (1953-1955, Korean War)



Stephen Chiles, U.S. Air Force/U.S. Army (Vietnam War)



Keith Cline, U.S. Air Force (1973-1976)



Arthur Dawkins, U.S. Air Force (1940-1972)



Robert Denton, U.S. Air Force (1955-1958, Korean War)



Johnny Denton, U.S. Navy (1962-1964)



Doug Dodd, U.S. Air Force (1971-1973)



Fred Doss, U.S. Army (1953-1955)



Leroy Downing, U.S. Navy (1946-1949, U.S. 1951-1952)



Willie Edwards, U.S. Army (Korean War)



Amber Ellison, U.S. Navy (1992-1995)



Robert Fels, U.S. Army (Vietnam War)



Elmo Finnigan, U.S. Army (World War II)



John Flood, U.S. Marines (1958-1966)



Howard Francis, U.S. Army (1942-1943)



Hugh Galbraith, U.S. Army (Korean War)



James Galloway, U.S. Navy (1942-1945)



John Gatz, U.S. Army (1943-1945, World War II)



Fred Gibson, U.S. Army (1957-1960)



Christine Gonzales, U.S. Navy/U.S. Army (2000 to present)



James Graham, U.S. Army (1940s)



Herman Green, U.S. Army (1960-1967)



Kermit Gurley, U.S. Army (World War II)



Dean Hall, U.S. Army (World War II, Korean War)



Earl Hatley, U.S. Air Force (1964-1967)



Jack Highers, U.S. Navy (1977-1982)



Jimmie Hinson, U.S. Air Force (World War II)



Gordon Holmes, U.S. Army (1959-1962)



James K. Howard, U.S. Air Force (1968-1972)



Kenneth Hudson, U.S. Navy (1969-1975)



Darrel Jaro, U.S. Army (1953-1994)



Jerry Johnson, U.S. Air Force (1950-1972)



Robert Jones, U.S. Army (Korean War)



Virgil Jordan, U.S. Army (World War II)



Jack Keith, U.S. Army (World War II)



Michael Kirsner, U.S. Army (1964-1985)



Gene Lawrence, U.S. Marines (World War II, Korean War)



Billy Liddell, U.S. Army (1946-1952, World War II, Korean War)



Robert Magerus, U.S. Army (1956-1958)



Dennis Maloy, U.S. Navy (Vietnam War)



Alfred Maples, U.S. Air Force (World War II)



Edward McAnulty, U.S. Army (1956-1960)



Adam McKean, U.S. Army (2001-2007, Iraq War)



Roy Miller, U.S. Army (World War II)



Bobby Morris, U.S. Army (1959-1962)



Maurice Myles, U.S. Army (Vietnam War)



Jim Norman, U.S. Navy (1955-1957)



Robert Olive, U.S. Navy (World War II, Korean War)



Ed Orr, U.S. Air Force (1963-1983)



L.B. Pearson, U.S. Army (1945-1947)



John Petras, U.S. Navy (1963-1967)



Hershel Phillips, U.S. Navy (World War II)



Clyde Potts, U.S. Air Force (1970-1973)



James Reid, U.S. Air Force (1967-1968)



Marv Resnick, U.S. Army (1951-1953, Korean War)



Carl Reynolds, U.S. Navy (1959-1964)



Thurman Robbins, U.S. Air Force (1961-1965)



Lee Roy, U.S. Navy (Korean War)



Johnny Russell, U.S. Army (Korean War)



Richard Ruth, U.S. Air Force (1968-1971)



Eddie Sacks, U.S. Army (1995-1999)



James Schat, U.S. Army (Vietnam)



Leroy Schmitt, U.S. Air Force (Korean War)



Logan Seneker, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy (Korean War)



Fred Shirley, U.S. Army (1971-1973)



Richard Silbernagel, U.S. Air Force (Vietnam)



Milton Skaggs, U.S. Marines/U.S. Air Force (1953-1968)



Bert Smith, U.S. Army (1970-1972)



Harvey Snow, U.S. Air Force (Korean War)



Harold Spake, U.S. Air Force (1966-1971)



Emil Stehr, U.S. Marines (1952-1954, Korean War)



Don Stevens, U.S. Army (1965-1967)



Harry Swift, U.S. Marines (1946-1953)



Bertram Tenney, U.S. Army (1951-1954, Korean War)



Teddy Thompson, U.S. Air Force (1950-1951)



Leroy Todd, U.S. Air Force (1943-1946)



Benny Turner, U.S. Army (1951-1953)



Herman Twellman, U.S. Army (Vietnam War)



Robert Tyson, U.S. Army (Korean War)



William Ussery, U.S. Navy/U.S. Army/U.S. Air Force (1947-1968)



Dominic Vassella, U.S. Navy (World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War)



Kenneth Wallace, U.S. Army (1955-1958)



Ronald Wasson, U.S. Marines (1966-1969)



Dennis Weese, U.S. Navy (1969)



Kenneth Weigel, U.S. Air Force (Vietnam War)



Aaron Whitworth, U.S. Navy (1955-1957)



John Williams, U.S. Air Force (1966-1971, Korean War)



Rhonda Williams, U.S. Army (1981-2005)



Jerry Williams, U.S. Army (1979-2001)



Robert Worrilow, U.S. Navy (1969-1970)



George Yelton, U.S. Army (1946)



John Young, U.S. Marines (1975-1979, 1991, 1993)



Stan Young, U.S. Navy (1978-1998)