Retired general campaigns for Obama in Le Mars

Retired Air Force General Scott Gration spoke to party activists on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama at the Le Mars American Legion Wasmer Post #241 Monday morning. The former Air Force pilot touted Obama's leadership abilities and commitment to veteran issues as qualifications for Commander in Chief. [Click to enlarge]

That is how retired Air Force General Scott Gration described Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

"(Obama's) has the judgment and courage to be the next Commander in Chief," Gration told a crowd of political activists gathered at the Le Mars American Legion Wasmer Post #241 Monday morning. "He's demonstrated this courage when he spoke out against the ill-advised and ill-conceived war in Iraq. He did it before the war started when many others were unwilling to do the same."

"That's exactly the type of courage our next Commander in Chief will need to bring our troops home responsibly," the former Air Force pilot added. "That's exactly the type of courage we'll need to help restore our leadership throughout the world."

"We need Barack Obama," he stated.

Gration, a native of St. Charles, Illinois, has joined Iowa Veterans for Obama on a four-day tour of the Hawkeye State.

Le Mars was the first of 14 scheduled stops the "Obama for Commander in Chief" tour, detailing the Illinois senator's plan to end the war in Iraq, was scheduled to make.

A command pilot with more than 5,000 flight hours, Gration has had extensive combat experience in the Middle East and served as the Commander of Task Force West during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His aerial combat experience included 274 combat missions over Iraq.

"The greatest asset that we have in our military are the brave young men and women who serve us so well," Gration observed. "I am convinced that Obama will honor them by bringing them home safely."

Raised in Africa, Gration joined the U.S. Air Force ROTC program at Rutgers University and went on to serve as a White House fellow, operations group commander, and as the Director of Regional Affairs in the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs.

"I met Obama when he toured Africa last year," Gration recalled, "and we visited Robins Island, the prison that was home to Nelson Mandela for 27 years. I couldn't help noticing that both men had the same leadership qualities and the same ability to motivate and inspire others."

"I also realized that both men had a strong understanding of history," he relayed. "You gotta know where you've come from if you want to lead the country towards any sort of future."

Joining Gration in Le Mars was Iowa National Guardsman Spc. Robert "B.J." Jackson.

Jackson, a native of Des Moines, lost the lower half of both of his legs in a Humvee attack in Iraq in October 2003.

"I signed up with the National Guard fresh out of high school," he recalled. "I was on leave and in downtown Baghdad picking up supplies."

"Leave it to me to get hurt on my day off," Jackson joked. "The Humvee that I was riding in struck a landmine on what is still known as the 'bloodiest day in Baghdad.'"

"When they were finally able to get me out, my left leg was completely burnt off and the right leg had been burnt to the bone," he said, thinking back on that fateful day. "Amputation was immediate."

The next thing Jackson knew was that he had lapsed into a coma.

"When I woke up, I was 102 pounds, tied to a bed, in a hospital in Texas," he said with a shudder. "My wife was on one side of me and another service person was on the other."

It was then that Jackson decided to devote his life to supporting wounded and disabled veterans.

"I became the national spokesman for the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes," he said proudly. "This is, in large part, due to all of the help and support I received."

Jackson is traveling with the Obama campaign because he said "Obama seems to be committed to veterans. Not just Iraqi War veterans but all veterans."

In May, the Obama campaign announced the support of 252 Iowa Veterans.

"Some people think that this is a partisan issue," Gration replied. "It is not. Patriotism is not a partisan issue and neither is the Iraqi Wat. It's an American issue."

"The 2008 presidential election will be framed by who is the best person for the job," he speculated, "and who will the most effective leader."

"In my opinion," Gration remarked, "that is Barack Obama."