Published: May 15, 2008 12:06 am            

Local veterans lend support to Clinton

Ashland — On the morning following Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s landslide primary victory in West Virginia, local veterans gathered at her campaign headquarters in Ashland to lend their support to the “Veterans for Hillary: 20 City Kentucky Veterans Tour.”

Benefits for fellow veterans, many said, are a concern for many who have served their country. Among the small crowd of supporters were: Ernie Blankenship of Catlettsburg, who served 30 years in the Army; Summit resident and Marine Corps vet Eulas Hayes; Navy veteran Vernon Holbrook of Ashland; and Woody Conley of Ashland, who also served in the Army.

“Bill (Clinton), he took care of the veterans and I’m sure she would, too,” said Dan Connaroy, a former Air Force pilot from Hamilton, Ohio.

Connaroy cited rising prescription and doctor’s visit costs for veterans under the Bush administration and said he was interested in learning more about “what Clinton’s intentions are,” to help correct the problem.

Jack M. Smith, a World War II Navy veteran from Greenup, said he hopes Clinton will be able to improve the nation’s financial interests.

“I would like to see improvements in our economy entailing more people going to work. And I would like to see companies and industries remain in this country and not go to China and Mexico,” Smith said, adding his belief the nation’s next leader should work to make it possible for more American-manufactured products to be sold in American stores such as Wal-Mart.

Saif Khan, a veteran of the war in Iraq who now serves as deputy director of Veterans Outreach, said he got involved in the Clinton campaign effort after facing problems with the Veterans Administration. With many buddies still in Iraq, Khan said he hopes to help them avoid some of the challenges he and other modern-day veterans have encountered after coming home.

“If you look at the record she has done the most for veterans,” Khan said, explaining Clinton has backed the most active veterans programs of any presidential candidate.

Khan said he appreciates Clinton’s stated intentions to bring troops home safely and concentrate the nation’s military efforts on the war on terror, increase education benefits and smooth the transition for homebound veterans.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.

        

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