Veterans from four wars join together to support R. Paul Ortiz

Meet Veterans for Ortiz

On Thursday, September 24^th, veterans from four wars spanning more than six decades gathered together at the Stafford Community Courthouse Center for the founding meeting of “Veterans for Ortiz.” Retired service men and women from the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq met to express their support of R. Paul Ortiz for Aquia Supervisor.  

Col. R. Paul Ortiz (USMC, ret.) served thirty years in the Marines, earning numerous commendations and awards. His son, Lieutenant Junior Grade Paul Robert Ortiz, graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2007, and is serving overseas in an undisclosed location.

Cpl. Jack Colby (USMC, ret), Col. Elmer Jones (USAF, ret), and Col. R. Paul Ortiz (USMC, ret)

Col. Jones (ret) and Supervisor Bob Woodson (D-Griffis-Widewater) swap stories about growing up in Washington, DC

The Congressional Gold Medal awarded in 2007 to 

Col. Jones (ret) and other Tuskegee Airmen.

Lt. Col. Jeff Speights, USMC (ret.) opened with the evening with remembrances of serving with Paul Ortiz. He remarked that even under live fire, Paul Ortiz remained calm and provided leadership.

Among the distinguished veterans speaking was Colonel Elmer Jones (retired), a maintenance officer with the famous Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. The Tuskegee Airmen were America ’s first black military airmen, formed in 1941 at a time when the U.S. War Department maintained a policy of racial segregation (a practice that only ended with a presidential order in 1948).  The unit derived its name from the historically black Tuskegee Institute, which prepared many of the pilots. In 2007, Col. Jones and the other surviving Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal for their service.  

Corporal Jack Colby (retired), 4th Marine Division, also spoke at the gathering. He fought in the Pacific battles of World War II, seeing combat in the battles of Saipan (the largest sea battle of WWII up to that point), Tinian and Iwo Jima.

Those present took a few moments to think of Korean War veteran Gunnery Sergeant Frank Farkas (retired), who planned to take part in the proceedings, but could not due to health reasons. GySgt Farkas earned two purple hearts for his service in Korea. He fought in the battles of Inchon (which led to a decisive victory for the United Nations); Chosin Reservoir (a brutal seventeen day battle in freezing weather in which UN forces were surrounded and outnumbered); and Seoul.

"Paul Ortiz is a fine man, and you would do well to have him serve you."--Cpl. Colby (ret)

George Schwartz, Chair, Stafford County Board of Supervisors (D-Falmouth)

George Schwartz, Chair of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors (D-Falmouth), an Army veteran and a member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans, commended Paul Ortiz for standing up against special interests that threatened his home and his community.

Paul Ortiz ended the evening with comments about how his service in the Marines has prepared him for public service, noting that the job of the armed forces  is to protect American government and people, and that as supervisor, he will do everything he can to protect and defend the interests of homeowners and citizens. Mr. Ortiz ended the evening by handing out autographed prints of commemorative paintings by Jason Breidenbach, US Army (ret.).

Veterans for Ortiz