They Have Served Our Country, Twice
Aug 21st, 2009 | 10 responses
A question asked by a member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) got my attention.
The question was: “I think most members of Congress don’t understand what it’s like to serve in the armed services. How many members of Congress have served in the military?”
The MOAA’s answer was:
The numbers of veterans in Congress has significantly diminished over the years. From the 70′s to today the number of veterans in Congress has dropped by 75 percent. According to a recent report published by the Congressional Research Service:
There are 121 total legislators who have served in the military (five less than the last Congress)
There are 96 veterans in the House and 25 in the Senate
Their collective wartime service includes World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Curious about these statistics, I obtained the full report published by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), titled “Membership of the 111th Congress: A Profile.”
This 11 page report not only provides information on military service of members of the 111th Congress, but also presents statistical information on other characteristics, including data on party affiliation, average age, length of service, occupation, religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity,and foreign births.
According to the CRS, these are the data on military service of members of the 111th Congress (Some as already reported by the MOAA):
In the 111th Congress there are 121 Members who have served in the military, five less than in the 110th Congress.
The House has 96 veterans (including two Delegates); the Senate 25.
These members served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, as well as during times of peace. Some have served in the Reserves and the National Guard. Several Members are still serving as Reservists. As noted above [see full report], one Senator is a former Secretary of the Navy.
The number of veterans in the 111th Congress reflects the trend of a steady decline in the number of Members who have served in the military.
For example, there were 298 veterans (240 Representatives, 58 Senators) in the 96th Congress (1979-1981); and 398 veterans (329 Representatives, 69 Senators) in the 91st Congress (1969-1971).
The site docstoc.com provides a complete list of members of the House of Representatives who have military service, including branch of service.
Representative John Murtha’s web site also has information on this subject.
Finally, back to the CRS report.
As mentioned, this report provides other statistics and data. Here’s a summary (Keep in mind; the report was published on December 31, 2008):
Currently, in the House of Representatives, there are 262 Democrats (including five Delegates and the Resident Commissioner) and 178 Republicans. The Senate has 55 Democrats; two Independents, who caucus with the Democrats; and 41 Republicans. There are two Senate vacancies and one House vacancy.
The average age of Members of both Houses of Congress at the convening of the 111th Congress is 58.2 years; of Members of the House, 57.0 years; and of Senators, 63.1 years.
The overwhelming majority of Members have a college education.
The dominant professions of Members are public service/politics, business, and law. Protestants collectively constitute the majority religious affiliation of Members. Roman Catholics account for the largest single religious denomination, and numerous other affiliations are represented.
The average length of service for Representatives at the beginning of the 111th Congress is 11.0 years (5.5 terms); for Senators 12.9 years ( 2.2 terms).
A record number of 95 women serve in the 111th Congress: 78 in the House, 17 in the Senate.
There are 41 African American Members of the House and none in the Senate. This number includes two Delegates. There are 31 Hispanic or Latino Members serving: 28 in the House, including the Resident Commissioner, and three in the Senate. Eleven Members (seven Representatives, two Delegates, and two Senators) are Asian or Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander. The only American Indian (Native American) serves in the House.
It’s an interesting read about our Members of Congress.
Thought you would like to know.
Image: Courtesy militaryinvestors.com
10 Responses to “They Have Served Our Country, Twice”
Not really surprising, in the past a fair number of WW II veterans were in Congress, now most of those have retired, the Veitnam generation who would be the right age to have the largest representation among Congressional members are a different sort. Most of those of priviledge, the folks that make up much of Congress were able to avoid Vietnam by deferments of various nature, college enrollment likely the biggest of these. Some, who had advantages, like John McCain and John Kerry served anyway, but most did not.
Interesting take, Leonidas.
Might be an interesting topic to look into.
Thanks,
Dorian
Are there any statistics, among those that served, that actually served in combat? We know McCain did and Kerry, even thought the Republicans call Kerry a coward, rather cowardly through their PACS, which still burns the hell out of me. For WWII, I think the statistics are that only 2% of the uniformed military actually served in combat. Actually serving in combat is a little better military service pedigree for an elected official IMO. Especially a wounded veteran. With only one Native American vet in congress, I wonder how Native American veteran considerations are being addressed? Native Americans are socially unique and IMO require unique considerations. I think enough Native Americans have paid for those unique considerations especially one named Ira Hays.
FT,
I understand your interest in those who served in combat, but I think you should broaden it a bit to those who had a decent likelihood of serving in combat. I think that George Bush in his air national guard role would not qualify, but some guys might have just happened to be in between Korea and Vietnam but in combat positions, or some guys might have been in transportation or engineering units that were potentially to be sent into war zones that served our country no less than those actually in combat. If we narrow definitions too much me might lose some perspective.
#Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI)
U.S. Army 1943-47
#Thomas Carper (D-DEL)
U.S. Navy 1968-1973
Navy Reserve 1973-1991
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
U.S. Navy 1959-61
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
U.S. Air Force 1983-1989
National Guard 1989-1994
Tom Harkins (D-IA)
U.S. Navy 1962-67
Navy Reserve 1968-74
James M. Inhofe (R-OK)
U.S. Army 1954-56
#Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Medal Of Honor
U.S. Army 1943-47
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
U.S. Army 1969-
Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
U.S. Army 1951-53
#John Robert Kerry (D-MA)
U.S. Navy 1966-1970
#Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Army 1942-1946
Richard Lugar (R-IN)
U.S. Navy 1957-60
#John R. McCain (R-AZ)
U.S. Navy 1958-81
*POW Vietnam 1967-73
Bill Nelson (D-FL)
U.S. Army 1968-1970
Jack Reed (D-RI)
U.S. Army 1967-1979
U.S. Army Reserves 1979-1991
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
U.S. Marine Corps (1958-62)
Arlen Specter (D-PA)
U.S. Air Force 1951-53
#Jim Webb (D-VA)
U.S. Marine Corps 1964-1972
Ass't Sec. of Defense 1984-1987
Secretary of the Navy 1987-1988
Roger F. Wicker (R- MS)
U.S. Air Force 1976-1980
Air Force Reserve 1980-2004
Roger F. Wicker (R- MS)
U.S. Air Force 1976-1980
Air Force Reserve 1980-2004
Louie Gohmert
US Army 1978-82
Actually the website http://www.awolbush.com/whoserved.html has quite a bit of statistics not only of politicians' military service, but also of talk radio and tv show personalities, pundits, etc., as to whether they served in the military or not, where, when and even some info on awards and decorations.
I did not quote it in my original article, because as you will see it is quite partisan, but probably factual
The website awolbush.com/who served has a bunch of statistics on not only members of Congress who served (and dates, locations, battles, awards and decorations), but also other politicians, public personalities, pundits, etc., etc.
I did not post it initially because it is quite a partisan site and the info is somewhat dated
Here is an example:
Rick Noriega, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas — joined the U.S. Army in 1979; currently Lt. Colonel in Texas Army National Guard, served in Afghanistan. (1)
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) — rifle platoon and company commander with the Fifth Marine Regiment in the An Hoa Basin west of Danang; was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. (1)
Representative Tim Walz, D-MN – Twenty-four years of service in the Army National Guard, retiring in 2005.
Representative Joe Sestak, D-PA – 31 years of service in the Navy, rising to the rank of Vice Admiral.
Representative Chris Carney, D-PA – Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve, Carney served multiple tours overseas and was activated for Operation Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Southern Watch.
Representative Patrick Murphy, D-PA – extensive career in the U.S. Army from 1993-2004; earned Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation.
Representative Phil Hare, D-IL – Served in the United States Army Reserve for six years.
Representative Jack Murtha (D-PA) – distinguished 37-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1990. (1)
Former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt – Missouri Air National Guard, 1965-71. (1, 2)
Representative David Bonior – Staff Sgt., United States Air Force 1968-72 (1, 2)
Former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle – 1st Lt., U.S. Air Force SAC 1969-72 (1, 2)
Former Vice President Al Gore – enlisted August 1969; sent to Vietnam January 1971 as an army journalist, assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade headquartered at Bien Hoa, an airbase twenty miles northeast of Saigon. More facts about Gore's Service
Leonidas
–[I understand your interest in those who served in combat, but I think you should broaden it a bit to those who had a decent likelihood of serving in combat.]–
I can never make equal that which is not.
Father Time.
Nor can I and I would not equate those who risked the possibility of combat with those who didn't, any more than differentiating between combat service and not. Note I put markers on those in my list I kwew to have combat experience.