The
following statement is by Robert E. Wallace, executive director of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the United States, regarding today’s nomination of Sen.
Chuck Hagel to become the next Secretary of Defense:
“It
is not the place for America’s oldest and largest combat veterans organization
to advise or recommend to the President who he should nominate for cabinet
positions. However, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. considers Chuck
Hagel — a twice-wounded Vietnam War infantryman and former two-term U.S.
senator from Nebraska — to be uniquely qualified to lead the Department of
Defense.”