Troop support requires action

Last Thursday, I began a 100-mile road march through the district to honor veterans over the Memorial Day weekend. The same day, in an interview with the Southeast Missourian, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson attempted to diminish my 11-year Army career as a combat engineer, Ranger and Green Beret. She stated I had "never commanded anybody."

Nothing could be further from the truth. I led and commanded troops in Kosovo as a platoon leader and a company executive officer. During my time in Iraq, as a detachment commander for an A-team of Green Berets, my mission was to command an elite unit of Americans and Iraqis to kill and capture terrorists.

Instead of apologizing for her comments, on Friday in the Southeast Missourian she said that she "didn't have my biography in front of her" when she made her remarks.

That's not good enough. The 70,000 veterans in this district that she claims to represent know that an officer's main duty is to lead and command. With our elected officials making huge decisions that impact our troops and our standing in the world, we must expect better.

Attempting to score political points by tarnishing a military record may work elsewhere, but it doesn't work here. A petition for her to apologize received over 500 signatures, with commentary from a number of respondents who listed themselves as now "former" Emerson supporters. You can sign the petition here (http://www.sowersforcongress.com/page/s/openletter).

To add injury to insult, last Friday Congresswoman Emerson also voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2011, which included the following:

* A pay raise of 1.9 percent for our troops.

* An increase in the maximum amount of hostile fire and imminent danger pay for the first time since 2004.

* An increase in the family separation allowance for service members whose temporary duty requires them to live away from their families.

* Special compensation for the victims of the Fort Hood shootings.

* $1.59B in funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

* Numerous programs strengthening our counterterrorism efforts around the globe.

Supporting the troops is more than rhetoric -- it requires action. Our representative used Memorial Day weekend by voting against the troops and attacking me because I was one. With our lowest number of veterans in Congress since World War II, we need more people in office that understand the basics: how the military works, what it needs and what it is like to put your life on the line for our country. If I am fortunate enough to represent this district in November, you'll have all those characteristics in me.

TOMMY SOWERS, 614 N. Pine St., Suite 202,

Rolla, MO 65402

Paid for and authorized by Tommy Sowers for Congress