Decorated Marine announces run for Congress

[unhappycamper]

Nick Popaditch is seen smoking a cigar while standing on top of his tank on April 9, 2003, in downtown Baghdad in front of a statue of Saddam Hussein just before his unit helped tear it down.


Decorated Marine announces run for Congress
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 21:00:31 EST

SAN DIEGO — A decorated Marine veteran who was famously photographed smoking a cigar after the fall of Baghdad announced Tuesday that he is running for Congress in California’s most southern district.

Nick Popaditch, 42, said he will seek the Republican nomination to unseat Democrat Bob Filner on a campaign that promotes limited government, a strong national defense and secure borders.

Known as “Gunny Pop,” Popaditch was awarded the Silver Star for combat actions in Fallujah, where he was blinded in one eye by a rocket-propelled grenade to the head.

That April 2004 attack came nearly a year after an Associated Press photographer captured a smiling Popaditch smoking a cigar, with the just-fallen statue of Saddam Hussein in the background. The photograph landed on newspaper front pages, garnering Popaditch worldwide attention.

Popaditch was a tank commander during the Persian Gulf War, was honorably discharged in 1992 and rejoined the Marines in 1995. He took medical retirement after his injury in Fallujah.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_popaditch_congress_111109/

[Sebass1271]

1. So sad he is running as repubke. Too bad. Why is it

that most of our military men and women tend to lean republican? I don't understand!. Repubkes will be the first to send them for combat even if it is for money and not a just war. Repukes will be the first to cut funds on everything that involves the military and soldiers still support repukes.

I guess repukes have really won the "war of words" against Dems on which party is more "patriotic"
:eyes: