DeSantis Campaign Press Release - South Carolina Veterans Join Ron DeSantis' National Veterans Coalition as Leadership Chairs

Ron DeSantis is launching his national Veterans Coalition today at an event in Anderson, South Carolina and veterans are lining up to join as leadership chairs for the Palmetto State.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Ron DeSantis is launching his national Veterans Coalition today at an event in Anderson, South Carolina and veterans are lining up to join as leadership chairs for the Palmetto State. The coalition will include veterans from across the country and will share how DeSantis's military service and vision to reverse America's decline make him the best suited to serve as Commander-in-Chief.

Today's event hosted by the governor is the first of a series of "Veterans for DeSantis" events. The coalition launch follows the plan DeSantis released during the summer to rip the woke out of the military and restore it to "mission first."

"Ron DeSantis put on the uniform and he will put America's military back where it should be. We need to restore our military strength before it's too late and he's the only candidate that knows how to do that." - Representative Micah Caskey, Captain, USMC (Ret.)

"I am deeply honored to support Governor Ron DeSantis for President. I know he understands what it means to serve, and that we must address lowering veteran suicide rates and safeguard veteran benefits. He is a veteran and public servant who has lived his life with honor and distinction." - Representative Joe Bustos, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.)

"As a veteran, I shared some of the same experiences as Governor DeSantis. I know how those experiences shape you - they create a mission-first attitude and a sense of purpose greater than yourself. In Governor DeSantis, those experiences have created a leader who puts service to his nation over his own ambitions and ego. He will be a president who does what is right for all Americans, including those who vote for him and those who don't, because his duty is to be the best commander-in-chief for the entire United States of America." - Councilman Marvin "Le" Flowers, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

South Carolina Veteran Coalition Leadership Chairs include:

• Representative Joe Bustos, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.)
• Neil Johnson, Petty Officer 2nd Class, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
  • Naval Nuclear Reactor Operator
• Patrick Elswick, Corporal, USMC (Ret.)
  • Iraq War Veteran
• Representative Micah Caskey, Captain, USMC (Ret.)
  • Afghanistan War Veteran
• Councilman Marvin "Le" Flowers, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
  • Gulf War Veteran
• Dr. Colin Edgerton, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
  • Bronze Star
  • Combat Medical Badge
  • Iraq War Veteran
• Tom Hanton, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
  • Vietnam POW
  • Bronze Star
  • Operation Desert Sheild and Desert Storm
  • Gulf War Veteran
• John Barron, Master Chief, U.S. Navy
  • Avionics Technician
  • Afghanistan Veteran
  • Iraq Veteran
• Robert Wood, Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
• Mike Stahl, Lieutenant Colonel, USMC
• Doug Greenlaw, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army
  • Vietnam War Veteran
  • Two Purple Hearts
  • Two Bronze Stars
  • Silver Star
• Darius Hall, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
• John Shafer, Petty Officer 2nd Class, U.S. Navy
• Ron Tamaccio, Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.)
• Matt Wavle, E-5 Sergeant, USMC
• Larry Byers, Lieutenant Colonel, USMC
• Shannon Grady, Petty Officer 3rd Class, U.S. Navy
• William Bartlow, Corporal, USMC
• Roy Jessup, Petty Officer 3rd Class, U.S. Navy
• Sarah Shea, Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Ron DeSantis stands out as the only veteran on either side of the aisle in the 2024 presidential race. After watching the Twin Towers collapse in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, DeSantis felt called to serve. After graduating from Harvard Law School, he volunteered to join the US Navy and later volunteered to deploy to Iraq alongside SEAL Team One as a JAG officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.

Veterans interested in joining the coalition or learning more can do so by clicking here.