Combat Veterans For Congress-----Embedded Integrity 

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is re-endorsing the 86th endorsed Combat Veteran For Congress, former Congressman Kerry Bentivolio (SFC-MI-ANG/Ret ) who resides in Milford, MI, to run for his former seat, in the 11th Congressional District of Michigan.  He is a 27-year veteran of the US Army and the Michigan Army National Guard, and is the only Congressman to have served in combat in both Vietnam and Iraq.

Cong Bentivolio will strongly support Veterans rights; he believes in a leaner government, lower taxes, will work to reduce the national debt, and will focus on reining in the out of control spending by irresponsible Progressive, Socialist, and Democrat members of Congress.  Cong Bentivolio will work with President Trump to secure the-wide open Southern Border, in order to stem the flow of opioids and other killing drugs, violent MS-13 gang members, human traffickers, Radical Islamic Terrorists, and Illegal Aliens from countries throughout the world entering the United States. 

Cong Bentivolio is running against Cong Haley Stevens (D-11) who opposes construction of a wall to close the wide open southern border, supports Sanctuary Cities as safe haven for convicted criminal Illegal Aliens, and opposes cooperation with ICE Agents in their attempts to apprehend & deport convicted criminal Illegal Aliens.  Stevens voted No on (HR 1), the bill to cut taxes, voted No on HR 3354 to appropriate funds to secure the wide open southern border, voted No on (HR 3219) for defense appropriations for military construction, and voted No on (HR 3697) for the deporting of Criminal Alien Gang Members.  Cong Stevens supported the flawed Obamacare health insurance program and is now supporting the flawed single-payer government-run healthcare insurance for all Americans. 

Cong Bentivolio was a former member of the 113th United States Congress (2013-15).  During his two years as a United States Congressman he earned a 100% rating for cutting government waste and was rated the 2nd Most Transparent Member of the 113th Congress.  Cong Bentivolio passed three Congressional Bills with bipartisan support in his first term.  According to the House Historian, in the last fifty-years, no other first-term Congressman passed three Bills in their first term.  Cong Bentivolio takes great pride that his district staff earned two constituent awards for, employing a mobile office, to serve constituents in his the 11th Congressional District. His average Conservative voting record during the 113th Congress, was  93%, he was one of 8 House members to score 100% for cutting government waist. 

Kerry was born on October 6, 1951 in Detroit, Michigan and was raised in his youth with his four brothers in Detroit.  His father worked in manufacturing and served in the US Army in the European Theatre during WWII, his grandfather served in the US Army in the European Theatre during WWI.  Kerry completed high school at Fort Knox, Kentucky in June 1968, and then served in Vietnam as an infantry rifleman, earning the rank of Sergeant prior to his 19th birthday. 

Kerry attended Oakland Community College in Farmington Hills, Michigan and received an Associate of Arts Degree in June 1989.  After two years at Oakland Community College Kerry transferred to Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, and matriculated there for 3 years.  Kerry subsequently returned to complete his college education at Saint Mary’s College in Orchard Lake, MI and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science in June 1999.  Kerry continued his studies part time, and entered Marygrove College in Detroit, MI to in June 2001 he obtained a Master’s of Education Degree, with 5 majors for teaching.  He is a Michigan licensed and certified vocational and general secondary education teacher specializing in general and vocational education and the emotionally impaired. 

Kerry was sworn in as a PVT at Fort Knox, Kentucky on November 6, 1968, and completed Boot Camp in February 1969.  Following basic training, PFC Bentivolio was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 87th Mountain Infantry Division where he went through additional training as an infantry rifleman in preparation for deployment to Vietnam.  In August 3, 1970, CPL Bentivolio deployed to Bien Hoa, Vietnam, where he was assigned to man a combat gun jeep; assigned to provide convoy security duty and was promoted SGT at age 18.  In May 1971, he was transferred to the 3rd Ordnance Battalion in Long Bien, Vietnam as a munitions clerk.  In August 3, 1971, SGT Bentivolio returned to CONUS, was given an early out, and was Honorably Discharged from the US Army.  His military awards for combat duty in Vietnam included the Army Achievement Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, the Combat Infantry Badge, various Vietnam Campaign Medals, and various Service Medals. 

In 1974, SGT Bentivolio joined the Michigan Army National Guard and was assigned as a Gun Chief in the 119th Artillery Battalion; he served for one year.  In 1990, SGT Bentivolio was again sworn into the Michigan Army National Guard and was assigned to the 177th Military Police Battalion; in 1994 he transferred to the 182nd Field Artillery Battalion as a Crew Chief.  In 1994, SGT Bentivolio was promoted to Staff Sargent and in 1996, SSG Bentivolio was assigned as an Artillery Instructor at the Michigan Army Reserve Training Center, at Fort Custer, Augusta, MI.  In 1997, he was promoted to Sargent First Class.  SFC Bentivolio returned to the 182nd Field Artillery Battalion in 1998. 

In February 2007, at age 56, SFC Bentivolio deployed to Talill, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; his unit was involved in escort duty for Combat Convoy Operations.  In October 2007, SFC Bentivolio was injured in a non-combat accident, and was MEDEVAC to Fort Knox, Kentucky by way of Rheine-Main, Air Base, Germany for medical recovery from a neck injury.  In October 2008, SFC Bentivolio as Honorably Discharged from active duty and was eventually medically retired from the Michigan Army National Guard in 2010 after 27 years of Active Army and National Guard service.  His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Army Commendation Medals, 4 Army Achievement Medals, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, Overseas Service Ribbon (3 awards), the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, various Vietnam and Iraqi Campaign Medals, and various Service Medals. 

In 1975, Kerry started work in the auto industry at American Motors Corporation as an automotive detailer (draftsman).  In 1977, he transferred to the Ford Motor Company, and in 1979 he transferred to General Motors Corporation, he became a Project Design Engineer and remained there until 1992.  Kerry also started a successful reindeer business in 1992.  His trained reindeer performed in over 600 Christmas Chamber of Commerce events & parades, other parades, over 200 Park and Recreation Department Tree Lighting ceremonies, and more than 200 private parties.  It became a successful part-time business for more than 20 years.  From 1997 to 2000, Kerry became a certified vocational and general education teacher who taught adult education, taught at Notre Dame Prep in Pontiac, MI from 2000-2005, and taught at Fowlerville Community School from 2005 until 2011. 

In 2010, Kerry ran for the Michigan Senate for the 15th District, but was defeated by Mike Kowall in the primary.  In 2012, after completing the school year, Kerry resigned his teaching assignment after winning the GOP primary for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District for the US House of Representatives so he could focus full time on his general election to the US House of Representatives.  He was previously considered a long shot, but won the primary election for the Republican nomination and also won in the general election.  

Since leaving public office, Cong Kerry has enjoyed serving as a volunteer with the Civil Air Patrol, working on a Wreaths Across America program training dogs for veterans with PTSD and assisting constituents with VA issues.  In 2015, when a VA lack of health care scandal was widely publicized, former Cong Bentivolio walked and bicycled 575 miles to Washington, DC, drawing attention to the VA scandal on 25 television and radio stations, and newspapers.  FOX News TV commentator, Sean Hannity, interviewed Kerry, and donated to help defray Kerry’s travel costs.

Cong Bentivolio is a life member of the VFW, a member of the AMVETS, the American Legion, the Military Order of Saint Barbara, the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), and the NRA.  Cong Bentivolio has been endorsed by the National Right to Life, the Right to Life Michigan, the NRA, Gun Owners of America, Republican Liberty Caucus, State GOP Committeeman Dave Agema and others, several local Tea Party Organizations, Young Americans for Liberty PAC, and the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.  Cong Bentivolio has been married to his wife, Karen who is a Registered Nurse and University of Michigan graduate, for 43 years.  He has two adult children, Kristin Lee age 39, and Kevin age 34, and 4 grandchildren.  Cong Bentivolio and his wife are active members of the Oak Point & Bell Creek Christian Church in Novi and Livonia, Michigan. 

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is pleased to endorse Cong Kerry Bentivolio, SFC-MI-ANG who will continue to bring to the US House of Representatives legislative skills and wisdom to better solve problems in government and represent the State of Michigan.  If you review Cong Bentivolio’s positions on his website in the attachment, you would be pleased with his positions; they agree with the Combat Veterans For Congress Mission Statement.  We look forward to working with Cong Bentivolio, and are pleased that a Combat Veteran of his caliber is running for re-election to the US House. 

If you have friends, associates, or relatives who know voters in Michigan, kindly pass this E-mail on to them, and ask them to support Cong Bentivolio 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.”