Jaede edited the summary of James Webb Tuesday, July 8 2008.
James Henry "Jim" Webb, Jr. currently serves as the Junior Senator for the State of Virginia. He was elected to office in 2007.
Before embarking on his political career in the Senate, James Webb was a decorated military veteran. Graduating from the Naval Academy
in 1968, Webb chose a commission in the Marine Corps. Webb served with the Fifth Marine Regiment in Vietnam as a rifle platoon and
company commander. During his tour of duty in Vietnam, he was awarded the two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Star Medals, the Silver Star Medal,
and the Navy Cross.
After leaving the Marine Corp in 1972, James Webb pursued a degree in law; he recieved his J.D. from Georgetown University in 1975. After
which, he delved into both the military and politics by serving as as counsel to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs from 1977 to 1981. In
1984, Webb became the inagural Assistant Secretary of Defense. Then, in 1987, he was the first Naval Academy graduate in history to be
appointed to the position of Secretary of the Navy.
In additoin to his political and public service, Webb also embarked on a successful career as a writer. He produced six best-selling novels,
including Fields of Fire, The Emperor's General, and Lost Soldiers. In addition to his career as a novelist, Webb worked as a screenwriter and
producer in Hollywood (Rules of Engagement). James Webb has also traveled the world as a journalist and was awared an Emmy for his PBS
coverage of the Marines in Beruit. In 2004, he traveled to Afghanistan as a journalist embedded with the U.S. Military.
Drawing on his experience as reporter and his interest in his heritage, Webb wrote the best-selling culutral history text Born Fighting:
How the Scots-Irish Shaped America, which presents the history of theScots-Irish in America over the last 200 years. Born Fighting
"reintroduces America to its most powerful, patriotic, and individualistic cultural group--one too often ignored or taken for granted"
(Born Fighting book jacket).
James Webb's most recent book is A Time To Fight: Reclaiming a Fair and Just America is a hard-hitting look at some of the most controversial
issues facing America today. In this work, Webb presents a clear yet "pulls-no-punches" plan for getting the American government to
work for the people rather than bowing to special interests. Further, Webb outlines a plan for restoring the standing of the United States on
the international scene.
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