Jackson's Hitt acknowledges American Legion error on campaign materials

Missouri House candidate Van Hitt admitted Thursday he has been distributing political materials that incorrectly identify him as a member of the American Legion, a group exclusively reserved for former military personnel who served their country during wartime.

But the candidate says the misinformation wasn't purposefully distributed to mislead voters.

Hitt, a Republican who is seeking the Jackson-based 146th District seat, says he meant for the 2,000 political push cards to note that he is a member of the Sons of the American Legion, an ancillary group within the organization for sons and grandsons of Legionnaires. Hitt's late father served in World War II in the Philippines.

But Hitt, a former Jackson High School football coach, himself has never served in the military, a fact which would preclude him from actual membership. To be an American Legion member a person must have served in the armed forces during wartime, classified by the group as dates coinciding with World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, conflicts in Grenada, Lebanon and Panama and the 1990 Gulf War and current conflicts in the Middle East.

On Monday, Hitt said he regretted what he described as a mistake that he made because he hurriedly filled out the print-job paperwork. It was never his intent to deceive anyone, he said.

"I sure didn't want to come across as someone who has been a veteran and served in the service," Hitt said. "Because I did not."

Hitt also wanted to apologize to the public, saying repeatedly he never meant the push cards to misrepresent his record. Of the 2,000 cards he had printed, he said he has only handed out about 50. He also intends to correct the remaining cards to list him as a member of the Sons of the American Legion, he said.

"There was no intent to falsify anything," Hitt said. "I hope people would understand this is an honest mistake on my part."

Still, local American Legion officials contacted Hitt on Monday and asked that he set the record straight. Several area Legionnaires noticed Hitt's claim of membership, though had never seen him at meetings. At a recent Republican gathering, Jim Roche, adjutant for Jackson's American Legion Post 158, approached Hitt and to ask why -- if he was a member -- he wasn't a member with the Jackson post. Roche said Hitt told him that he was not a member of the American Legion but was a member of the Sons of the American Legion.

"Van has never been in the military and never been in the American Legion," Roche said. "That might lead some to think he's a military veteran. It causes some heartburn and distress with me."

Several other members of the Legion, which has about 475 members at the Jackson post, were upset about the inaccuracy.

"If he's going to correct it, fine," Roche said. "But I'm kind of a truth seeker. I think you have to be forward and honest with people, especially when you're running for office."

The Missouri Department of the American Legion confirmed for the Southeast Missourian on Monday that Hitt is not a member of the American Legion but he did join the Sons of the American Legion in April, two months after filing for office. Hitt said he joined only recently because he was not aware of the existence of such a group for sons of veterans. He was recruited at a political event and joined, he said, because he is proud of his late father's service.

"None of this was done to get a political advantage," Hitt said.

Dennis Woeltje is the Legion vice commander of the state's zone 4, which extends from St. Louis to the Bootheel and westward to Oregon County. Woeltje contacted Hitt on Monday asking that he correct the error.

"He is not entitled to say that," Woeltje said. "We protect the right to say that with everything. It's important to us. We do not like someone to say they belong when they actually don't."

Still, Woeltje said he did not believe that Hitt acted intentionally or to con voters, who will choose between Hitt, fellow challenger Gerald Adams and incumbent Rep. Donna Lichtennegger during the Aug. 7 GOP primary.

"I've talked with Mr. Hitt before and he doesn't seem the type to maliciously do something that's wrong," Woeltje said. "I think he made an honest mistake, and I think we can correct it."

Lichtenegger was sympathetic to her opponent's plight Monday, saying she believed it was the mistake of a first-time candidate.

"Mistakes happen," she said. "This is the first time he's done this, and he's inexperienced. When it's your first time, it's tough. I think he's done a remarkable job for it being his first time running. As long as he wants to make the record straight, I think it's great."

Adams declined to comment.

While it remains unclear what affect this will have at the polls, if any, Hitt insisted that he was glad voters will have all the correct information.

"I do want the facts out there," Hitt said. "I'm not trying to deceive anyone. I want to be as open, up front and honest as I know how to be."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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