James Webb: A COURAGEOUS Dem. candidate who isn't even using his war medals in his campaign....

Of course, until he became completely DISGUSTED with the Bush-Rethuglican agenda of blatant crony-corruption and the extortionate policies of one-party rule, James Webb was a Republican, a Secretary of the Navy under the Reagan administration, no less. Whether because of or in spite of his Republican career and Vietnam war combat experience, Webb is putting up a hell of a fight against incumbent Repub. senator George Allen. We hope the Webb campaign will CHALLENGE George Allen to DISCLOSE HIS PRIOR ARREST RECORD, seeing as the Allen campaign has seen fit to make Webb's Vietnam war-novels a campaign issue. The Republican smear-and-fear campaign meisters would CERTAINLY use any sealed convictions of a Democratic candidate against him; and they would most certainly go to friendly judges or officials to get those sealed records and publicize them, as they did with Bill Clinton's draft papers and his letter to his draft board.

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James Webb's Navy Cross
The Virginian-Pilot
October 27, 2006
http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=113303&ran=33810

Editor's note: The Navy Cross is the nation's second-highest award for bravery in facing an enemy. James Webb has refused to use it in his campaign. We are publishing it with our endorsement of him because we believe it testifies to his character.

The Navy Cross is presented to James H. Webb, Jr., First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam.

On 10 July 1969, while participating in a company-sized search and destroy operation deep in hostile territory, First Lieutenant Webb's platoon discovered a well-camouflaged bunker complex which appeared to be unoccupied. Deploying his men into defensive positions, First Lieutenant Webb was advancing to the first bunker when three enemy soldiers armed with hand grenades jumped out.

Reacting instantly, he grabbed the closest man and, brandishing his .45 caliber pistol at the others, apprehended all three of the soldiers.

Accompanied by one of his men, he then approached the second bunker and called for the enemy to surrender. When the hostile soldiers failed to answer him and threw a grenade which detonated dangerously close to him, First Lieutenant Webb detonated a claymore mine in the bunker aperture, accounting for two enemy casualties and disclosing the entrance to a tunnel.

Despite the smoke and debris from the explosion and the possibility of enemy soldiers hiding in the tunnel, he then conducted a thorough search which yielded several items of equipment and numerous documents containing valuable intelligence data. Continuing the assault, he approached a third bunker and was preparing to fire into it when the enemy threw another grenade.

Observing the grenade land dangerously close to his companion, First Lieutenant Webb simultaneously fired his weapon at the enemy, pushed the Marine away from the grenade, and shielded him from the explosion with his own body.

Although sustaining painful fragmentation wounds from the explosion, he managed to throw a grenade into the aperture and completely destroy the remaining bunker.

By his courage, aggressive leadership, and selfless devotion to duty, First Lieutenant Webb upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.