COL Robert McConnell, USA (Ret) of Steamboat Springs, CO is running in the 3rd Congressional District of Colorado.  He is a 30 year military veteran who will be running against Rep John Salazar (D-CO-3).  COL McConnell was born in Philadelphia he grew up in a military family, his father was US Naval Academy Class ’43 graduate (his class graduated early in June ’42 to support the WWII war effort) he was serving on the USS Hornet when it was sunk in October ’42, went to the USS Enterprise, was XO of VF-54 flying Skyraiders off USS Valley Forge in Korea, commanded VA-172, was Exec of Weapons Department at USNA, and the family moved around the country from one military base to another; Robert McConnell graduated from Highland High School in Albuquerque in 1964.  In December 1968, COLMcConnell received a BS from the Universityof Tennessee.  In 1974, CPT McConnell was one of twenty-five officers selected to go to Law School.  He matriculated at the Universityof Tennessee on a full Army scholarship; he graduated in 1977, was an editor of the Law Review, and was selected as graduate of the year of Phi Delta Phi (a national legal fraternity).   In December 1966 Robert McConnell enlisted in the US Army Reserve and was discharged as a PFC on December 12, 1968 the date he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army.  Captain McConnell had one tour in combat in Vietnam.  He was assigned as CO, HHC, 3rd Brigade (separate), 1st Air Calvaryfrom October –December ’71.  He was assigned as S-3 Air, 1/7th Cavalry from December ’71-March ’72 (While CO Charlie Company was hospitalized he served as acting CO).  He was CO Delta Company (renamed Bravo Company) from April-August ’72.  He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, two Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, and other campaign medals. He was promoted to Colonel on July 12, 1991, while assigned to the Office of Judge Advocate General as Chief (IMA), Labor and Employment Law, OTJAG, the Pentagon; he left active duty in 1984, and retired in 1996.  Colonel McConnell is a graduate of IOBC (honor Graduate), Airborne, Ranger (Distinguished Honor Graduate), Jump Master (Honor Graduate), JABC, JA Graduate Course, C&GS, and the Air War College.     After leaving active service he joined a law firm that eventually became Holland & Hart, and in 1987 he formed the law firm of Collins & McConnell.  Col McConnell was a member of the 1987 American Everest North Face Expedition, and led the 1990 and 1992 Everest Environmental Expeditions.  In 1991 he received the David Brower Awad for outstanding service in mountain conservation.   In 1996 “Gentle Expeditions-A Guide to Ethical MountainAdventures”, his book, was published.  In his firm’s law practice, his clients included the City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Express, Honeywell, Simtek, and many small businesses.  COL McConnell retired from the practice of law in 1999, and founded KB Mountain Adventures with Kevin Madler; it is a guiding business based near Westcliffe designed to teach horseback riding, horse packing, mountain biking, rock climbing, ice & alpine climbing, and backcountry safety skills.  COL McConnell is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with 5 years of experience on the Custer County Ambulance Corps, joined the Ski Patrols at both Steamboat Ski area & Howelsen Hill, was a member of the Custer County Search and Rescue Team, and a member of the Custer County Sheriff’s Posse.  COLMcConnell served on the vestry of Chapel of Our Savior in Colorado Springs.  He is a life member of American Legion Post 44, a life member of VFW Post 4264, and a member of Steamboat Christian Centerwhere he attends church.   He has been endorsed by the Southern Colorado and the Grand Junctions Results Tea Party organizations.  If you review COL McConnell’s positions on his Web site, you would be pleased with his stand; they agree with the Combat Veterans For Congress MissionStatement.  We look forward to working with COLMcConnell, 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 3rd Congressional District of Colorado, kindly pass this E-mail on to them, and ask them to support COL McConnell 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.