The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is endorsing the 89th Combat Veterans For Congress; he is a fiscally conservative candidate who will work to rein in the out of control spending by irresponsible members of Congress and the Obama administration, will work to reduce the national debt, and will work toward unleashing the private sector to grow once again, create jobs, and stimulate private sector business investment.  He believes in an efficient government that serves the people and upholds the highest standards of integrity and transparency.  Col Larry Kaifesh, USMCR (Ret) http://www.kaifeshforcongress.com of Carpentersville, Illinois is running in the primary election to seek the Republican nomination to run for the 8th Congressional District of Illinois currently represented  by first term Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL-8) who voted to support the flawed Obamacare Law and voted to cut retirement pay & benefits for US Military personnel.  Larry Kaifesh was born on June 2, 1967 in Elgin, Illinois and was raised in Carpentersville.  Larry graduated from Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville on June 7, 1985 where he was an undefeated state wrestling champion and All-American.  Larry earned an athletic scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana on May 26, 1990.  In June 2008, Lt Col Kaifesh earned his Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

On February 4, 1991, Larry Kaifesh was sworn into the US Marine Corps and entered Officers Candidate School at the US Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA; he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps on April 27, 1991.  Following the completion of Officer Candidate School, in April, 1991, 2nd Lt Kaifesh reported to The Basic School (TBS) at the US Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA and completed Basic Marine Corps Officer Training in September 1991.  In September 1991, 2nd Lt Kaifesh reported to the Infantry Officer Course in Quantico, VA for Military Operational Specialty training in the infantry.  Upon graduating from Infantry Officer Course in December 1991, he was assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, where he served as a rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander, and the Company Executive Officer. In April 1993 he was promoted to First Lieutenant, and in 1994, he was assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment where he served as the Regimental Tow Platoon Commander. In August 1995, 1st Lt Kaifesh was promoted to Captain.

In 1996 Captain Kaifesh transitioned into the Marine Corps Individual Ready Reserve and in 1999 reported to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines to serve as the Executive Officer. In May 2000, Captain Kaifesh was promoted to Major.  In response to the September 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, on September 15, 2011, President George W. Bush authorized a partial mobilization of the US Armed Forces in Operation NOBLE EAGLE, the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment became a Quick Reaction Force for contingency operations based out of Camp Pendleton, CA.  In January 2002, Major Kaifesh reported to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines staff and served as the Assistant Operations Officer.

In January 2003 Maj Kaifesh deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM I, and was given Command of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines on the march up thru Iraq, and led the first company into Baghdad.  After clearing and securing Baghdad, that he led the Rifle Company in Task Force Tripoli’s mission to secure the city of Tikrit, Iraq until June 2003, when he returned with Golf Company to CONUS, the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment was demobilized. At his request, Maj Kaifesh was transferred to the 3rd Civil Affairs Group, which was in dire need of officers as they were getting ready to deploy to Iraq.  In February 2004, Maj Kaifesh was assigned as a Civil Affairs Team Leader and deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II to Al Anbar, Iraq and in April 2004 he participated in Operation VIGILANT RESOLVE in Fallujah, Iraq, the First Battle of Fallujah, to capture the city form Al Q’ieda terrorists.  In September 2004, Maj Kaifesh returned to CONUS and was awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Combat “V”), the Combat Action Ribbon, and various Campaign and Service Medals.

In March 2006, Maj Kaifesh was deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM IV and assigned to the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq, under Multi-National Forces - Iraq as the Deputy for a Joint Intelligence Transition Team developing, organizing, training, and equipping the Iraqi National Information and Investigation Agency (Iraqi FBI) in Baghdad, Iraq.  In October 2006, Maj Kaifesh was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.  In March 2007, Lt Col Kaifesh returned to CONUS and was awarded the Defense Meritorious Medal and various Campaign and Service Medals.

In July 2007, Lt Col Kaifesh received orders to report to the US Naval War College in Newport, RI to matriculate in the National Security and Strategic Studies program.  In June 2008, Lt Col Kaifesh earned a Master of Arts Degree conferred in National Security and Strategic Studies at the US Naval War College in Newport.  In July 2008, he was appointed to the Office of Legislative Affairs at the US Capital in Washington, DC where he served as a Legislative Fellow to Congressmen John P. Kline, Col-USMC (Ret) (R-MN-02), an endorsed Combat Veterans For Congress. In November 2009, Lt Col Kaifesh took command of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines and was responsible for preparing the Battalion for an arduous deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 10.2; in August 2011, the Battalion deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan with subsequent assignments at Camp Leatherneck, Camp Dwyer, Sangin and Deleram.  The security and controlling operations included, counterinsurgency, civil affairs, religious outreach, medical outreach, route clearing, patrolling areas with enemy activity, and aerohunter missions (ambush enemy units using rat lines to bring in drugs and lethal aid-–by conducting assaults from helos loitering in key areas).  The 3rd Battalion returned to CONUS in April 2011; Lt Col Kaifesh was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (with Combat “V”) and various Campaign and Service Medals. 

Upon relinquishing command of the 3rd Battalion in November 2011, Lt Col Kaifesh reported into First Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF-FWD) to assume the duties of the C9, Governance Officer.  In January 2012, Lt Col Kaifesh deployed to Helmand province and the city of Lashkhar Gah, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 12.1. as the Governance Officer for the I MEF.  The I MEF was responsible for all of the Southwest Region.  LT Col Kaifesh’ assignment was to facilitate the development of the Afghan Government by working closely with the Provincial Reconstruction Team, facilitating local elections and educating local government on tasks and responsibilities.  In August 2012, Lt Col Kaifesh returned to CONUS, and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and various Campaign and Service Medals.

In October 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Kaifesh joined the Joint Staff in the Anti-Terrorism, Homeland Defense Directorate as an Action Officer and served as the Battle Captain for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the National Joint Operations and Intelligence Center.  In May 2013, Lt Col Kaifesh was promoted to Colonel.  On September 30, 2013, Col Kaifesh completed his assignment for the US Marine Corps Reserve and received an Honorable Discharge.  Col Kaifesh is scheduled to take reserve command of the Second Civil Affairs Group on April 5, 2014 based out of Washington, DC.  Col Kaifesh’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star (with Combat “V”), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Combat “V”), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and various Campaign and Service Medals.

In October 2013, Colonel Kaifesh moved back to his hometown of Carpentersville, IL in order to run and win the Illinois 8th Congressional Seat.  Colonel Kaifesh has been endorsed by Congressman John Kline, 25-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Member of Congress (MN-2), and Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH-4). Colonel Kaifesh has also been endorsed by the Indian American Republican Organization and the Palatine Township, Barrington Township, Addison Township, Wheeling Township Organizations, and the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.  Colonel Kaifesh is a member of Saint Monica’s Church in Carpentersville, IL, a First Degree Knight of Columbus from Holy Family Council #11981, a member of the American Legion, VFW, NRA, Indiana University Varsity Club and Indiana University Alumni Association. 

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is pleased to endorse Col Larry Kaifesh, USMCR (Ret) who will bring to Congress private sector skills and wisdom to better solve problems in government and represent the 8th Congressional District of Illinois and the Republic. If you review Col Kaifesh’s positions on his Web site, you would be pleased with his stands; they agree with the Combat Veterans For Congress Mission Statement.  We look forward to working with Col Kaifesh, and are pleased that a Combat Veteran of his caliber is running for Congress.  If you have friends, associates, or relatives who know voters in the 8th Congressional District of Illinois, kindly pass this E-mail on to them, and ask them to support Col Kaifesh by working in his campaign, providing financial support for his campaign in any amount, and/or by networking with others who would be willing to support his campaign.  The military is one of the few remaining institutions producing the caliber of men and women needed to restore this nation to the greatness our Founding Fathers envisioned.  We have endorsed another Combat Veteran For Congress that General George Washington would have approved of.  He is a Veteran who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount “up to and including his life.”