Lance Sigmon for Congress official Campaign Homepage

Veterans demand apology from McHenry

To Rep. Patrick McHenry,

As military veterans, we were extremely disappointed in your actions following your recent trip to Iraq.

When you ridiculed a guard ("two-bit security guard"), you showed your contempt and disrespect to those who serve and whose job it is to protect others from harm. You also showed your ignorance of the military system, because those of us who have "been there, done that" know that a military ID or proper military credentials are necessary for every aspect of military life- whether it is to be allowed onto a military installation or to be given access to base commissary. In addition, it did not matter if this guard was an active-duty soldier, an American contractor, or a foreign contractor. He was simply following orders and doing his job- another military concept which you apparently do not understand.

However, when you posted and publicized a video that you personally narrated shortly after an attack on our troops within the Green Zone, you completely crossed the proverbial "line in the sand." It was a cheap political stunt to gain undeserved respect and to overcome the criticism you received from your earlier disparaging remarks. In addition, your actions may have compromised the safety and security of thousands of Americans who remain in Baghdad as part of our war on terror.

While you may claim that your "military experts" say that the possibility is "practically nil" that anyone was hurt due to your actions, we believe that the military experts in the Pentagon knew better, because they ordered you to remove the video and not show it again.

We believe that these men and women, who voluntarily put their lives on the line so that we may remain free, deserve the utmost respect of the American people.

Because of your actions, we the undersigned military veterans are demanding a formal public apology for placing our troops at risk. You have had several opportunities to admit your mistake but have chosen not to do so. You owe our brave men and women in the Armed Forces no less.

Jack Minor, Conover
Delbert Harris, (ret.)
Jerry Phillips, Hickory
Marshall Hiatt, (ret.) Hickory
Randy Underwood, Conover
Elmer Lint,   Conover
Dr. Tom Goodin III,  Conover
Jay Hemphill, Raleigh
Paul Hughes, Hickory
Donald Bumgarner, Hudson
Hugh Bumgarner, Hudson
Lloyd Bumgarner, Hudson
Clifton Hal Moore, (ret.) Lenoir
Michael Kelly (ret.), Raleigh
Sam Dotson, Clemmons
Roscoe J. Jaynes (ret.), Hudson
Terry Hubbard, Lenoir
Randy Ly, Catawba
Richard Morris (ret.), Newton
Frank Harris, Hickory
Robert Medlin (ret.), Hickory
Mike Anvil, Fallston
Rowe Bollinger, Newton
Dewel Sigmon, Conover
James Deaton, Morganton
Mark Chambers, Lenoir
Baine Fox, Gastonia
Bill Fox, Lenoir
Wm. Jerry Fredell, Connelly Springs
Gary Price, Conover
Dow Cooke, Newton
Charlie R. Hord, Sherrills Ford
Bob Mays, Hickory
Zane B. Stilwell, Mountain View
Norma P. Stilwell, Mountain View
Norma Seitz, Mountain View
Z. B. Stillwell, Mountain View
David B. Baker, Hickory
David H. Cooke, Newton
Kevin Scott, Hickory
Maura Beard, Hickory
Dorothy Baker, Hickory
Arthur S. Baxter, Newton
Roy Waters, Hickory
John Patton, Hickory
James R. Pope, Hickory
Charles Parkhurst, Taylorsville
Lester Killian, Conover
Robert L. Smith, Hickory
Allen E. Caldwell, Lenoir
Hayden Robinson, Hickory
Everett R. Rigsby, Jr., Hickory
John Harden, Granite Falls
Harry Flynn, Taylorsville
Bobby Wineberger, Conover
Ralph R. Kiziah, Hickory
Johnny D. Lynn, Newton
Paul Robinson, Hickory
Joe Epps, Newton
Gene Baker, Hickory
Steve Dain, Conover
Ralph B. Adcock, Hickory
Robert J. Blevins, Hickory
Johnny Rector, Claremont
Charles Huffman, Claremont
John Starnes, Hickory
Donald Sigmon, Conover
George Ritchie, Hickory
Gerald L. Mourglea, Hickory
W. Avery Wilfong, Hickory
William Barkley, Hickory
Robert Hamby, Jr., Hickory
Joe Isenhour, Hickory
Ed Gavin, Hickory
David Webber, Hickory