The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is endorsing a candidate who was previously endorsed in the 2010 mid-term election.  He is therefore one of 69 Combat Veterans For Congress who have been endorsed over the last three years.  He is a fiscally conservative candidate who will work to rein in the out of control spending by Congress and the Obama Administration and will work toward unleashing the private sector to grow once again, create jobs, and stimulate the private sector business investment.  Major Michael Crimmins USMC (Ret) http://www.CrimminsForCongress.com resides in San Diego, California; he is a 23 year US Marine Corps veteran, and is running for election to an open seat in the newly redistricted 51st Congressional District of California.  Maj Crimmins was the Republican nominee in the 53rd Congressional District of California for both the 2008 and 2010 election cycles. He lost his race against 5 term Congresswoman Susan Davis.  Michael Crimmins was born in New Rochelle, New York on September 4, 1947, and graduated from Salesian high School in New Rochelle in June 1966.  Michael’s father commanded two different ships in the Pacific Theatre during WWII; the ships he commanded received credit for sinking one Japanese submarine, a probable sinking of a second Japanese submarine, and for shooting down two Japanese Mitsubishi G4M Bombers (Betty’s).  Following graduation from high school, Michael entered Saint Michael’s College in Winooski Park, Vermont and graduated in June 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA) in Political Science.  Following retirement from the US Marine Corps, Maj Michael Crimmins matriculated at National University Graduate School of Education and in June 2001 he received A Master of Arts in Education Degree (MA).  In June 2007, Major Crimmins received a Master of Science in Educational Administration (MS). 

On April 28, 1968 while matriculating at Saint Michael’s College, Michael was sworn in to the US Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Program.  He did his basic Marine Corps training during summer breaks in college at the US Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.  In August 1970 Michael was commission a Second Lieutenant and completed Basic Officer’s Training in May 1971 at Quantico.  From June to September 1971, 2nd Lt Crimmins completed training at Artillery School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and reported to 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune as a Forward Observer for Alpha Battery (105 mm howitzer battery). 1st Battalion, 10th Marines (A-1-10).  In December 1971, 2nd Lt Crimmins was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and deployed to WESTPAC, reporting to the 1st MAW at Yokota Airbase, then in April 1972 to Iwakuni, Japan to the Marine Aircraft Wing.  He deployed as an Artillery Officer in May 1972 to Da Nang, Vietnam for his first combat tour until August 1972.  He remained in WESTPAC with the 1st MAW with various assignments in the Philippines, Korea, and Thailand until January 1973 when he returned to CONUS.  For his Combat tour in Vietnam, 1st Lt Crimmins was wounded twice, and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal (Gold Star for second award), the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Naval Unit Citation, and various campaign and service medals.  

Following his return to CONUS 1st Lt Crimmins was assigned duty as XO of A-1-10 until March 1973 when he reported to flight training in Pensacola, Florida.  He completed flight training on March 6, 1974 and received his wings as an A6E Intruder bombardier-navigator.  In January 1975 2nd Lt Crimmins was promoted to Captain while assigned to the 2nd MAW with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 121, VMA (AW)-121, at Cherry Point, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), NC.   From October 1976 to November 1979, Captain Crimmins was assigned as an Tactical Air Control Party Instructor for Marines Forward Air Controllers and SEALS at the Landing Force Training Command, Naval Amphibious Base(NAB), Coronado.  In November 1979 he was reassigned in a flying status at VMA (AW) 121 at MCAS El Toro, California.  In June 1982, Captain Crimmins was promoted to Major while XO of MWH-3 at Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, CA, and maintained flight status until November 1983 when he was assigned to the Marine Corps Development & Education Command at Quantico, VA.  From 1987 thru late 1990, major Crimmins was assigned toTACRON-11 at NAB, Coronado, deploying twice overseas on the USS Peleliu (LHA-5).  In late 1990 Major Crimmins was assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) as the G-3 Fixed Wing Air Officer at Camp Pendleton, CA.   He deployed on his second combat tour to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on January 4, 1991 on Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm as a G-3 Special Projects Officer of 1st MEF; his duties included training various unit personnel as Forward Air Controllers for close air support. Major Crimmins returned to Camp Pendleton on March 30, 1991 and received an Honorable Discharge from the US Marine Corps on July 1, 1991.  Besides his Awards for his combat tour in Vietnam his medals include the Meritorious Service Medal (Gold Star for second award), the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and various campaign and service medals for combat duty during Operation Desert Storm.

Following retirement from the US Marine Corps, after Maj Crimmins obtained an MA and a MS in Education at National University Graduate School of Education, he subsequently obtained a California Teaching Credential for both General and Special Education.  He has been teaching in San Diego City Schools as a substitute teacher, long term substitute teacher, and as a teacher in grades K thru 12 for 10 years.  Michael has been an Administrator and Principal for several middle/high schools in Ramona, Mar Vista, and Desert Hot Springs.  For two years after school hours in K thru grade 6, Michael taught math and reading skills for under-performing disadvantaged minority students in Southeast San Diego.   Maj Crimmins has been endorsed by the Cong Duncan L. Hunter (Ret), Cong Barry M. Goldwater, Jr. (Ret), Cong Tom Tancredo (Ret), Sheriff Joe Arpaio (Arizona), T. J. Bonner, (President, National Border Patrol Council).  He belongs to the Marine Corps League, the Intruder Association Organization, the Midway Association, and the Larchmont Yacht Club.  Maj Crimmins has one daughter, Ashley.  Maj Crimmins is a member of the Marine Corps League, the VFW, the NRA, and attends St. Agnes Catholic Church in Point Loma, California.

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is pleased to endorse Maj Michael Crimmins, USMC (Ret) who will bring to Congress private sector skills and wisdom to better solve problems in government and represent the 51st Congressional District of California and the Republic. If you review Maj Crimmins’ 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 Maj Crimmins, 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 51st Congressional District of California, kindly pass this E-mail on to them, and ask them to support Maj Crimmins 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.”