KINSTON, NC – VoteVets PAC, on behalf of its over 600,000 veterans, military families, and civilian supporters, is today endorsing Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, Richard Bew for Congress, in North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District special election.

“Richard Bew’s commitment to community, and to service, along with his stellar record of leadership in the Marines is the exact kind of background that we can use more of, in DC, right now,” said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chair of VoteVets PAC. “From learning from his parents’ service as a school teacher and church organist, to his nearly 30 years in the Marines, deploying for combat missions around the world, to raising kids who now give back, themselves, Richard embodies someone who knows that service never ends, and community bonds never break.”

According to his biography, Richard Bew’s 29 years in the Marines included eight combat deployments, including to Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Italy, and Japan, and other deployments at Prince Sultan Airbase Saudi Arabia, Camp Commando Kuwait, and Camp Leatherneck/Bastion. He primarily flew EA-6B Prowler's (which were retired last weekend), while in the Marines, but also flew a wide array of helicopters and aircraft in combat. Bew rose up the ranks to Colonel, serving his final deployment as the Legislative Director to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, a Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Individual Air Action Medals with Combat ‘V’, and many others.