Pennsylvania Focus: Veterans for Manan Trivedi for Congress

As Republicans continue to attack Veterans and refuse to support our troops with anything but words, Veterans are turning to the Democratic Party. This comes from the Trivedi for Congress campaign:

These Veterans are standing with former Lt. Commander Manan Trivedi after his opponent Jim Gerlach attacked him for his service and now we're hoping you will stand with Manan too by making a contribution on ActBlue.

Your contribution today will help us continue to build an even stronger campaign as move closer to November 2nd.

Thank you and don't forget to visit our online headquarters

Manan Trivedi has been endorsed by VetPAC:

The Veterans Alliance for Security and Democracy Political Action Committee (VETPAC) Throws Support Behind Iraq War Veteran's Campaign and Rebukes Jim Gerlach for his Lack of Understanding of Military Service.


Today, after Congressman Jim Gerlach's campaign denigrated the sacrifice made by the men and women of our armed forces, VETPAC proudly endorses Manan Trivedi for Congress in Pennsylvania's 6th District.

"Manan Trivedi served this country honorably in the Navy, including a tour in Iraq as a combat surgeon, and is the best man to serve his district in Congress," said Paul H. "Bud" Bucha, VETPAC's Advisory Board Chairman and Medal of Honor recipient for service in Vietnam.

"After ten years of war in Afghanistan and seven in Iraq, it is unbelievable that Jim Gerlach and his campaign neither understand nor respect the service of our military and their families or the debt we owe to our veterans. Of course Manan had to be away from home during his time in the Navy. Unfortunately, Jim obviously has no idea what our veterans do in the name of protecting this nation." Said Colonel Richard L. Klass, USAF (retired), President of VETPAC.

In a statement, the Gerlach campaign attacked Trivedi for having lived outside of the district during the time Jim Gerlach has been in Washington. After the campaign was made aware that Trivedi had been either on active duty or in the reserves during that time, they maintained that he had "voluntarily" lived these places, ignoring that Trivedi had, in fact, been stationed on active duty at Camp Pendleton as the battalion surgeon for the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment Marine Corps Infantry Battalion and BUMED as an adviser for the Naval surgeon general during this time. The time period also encompasses Trivedi's deployment to Kuwait and Iraq, where he served as the combat surgeon of one of the first units to cross the border into Iraq in 2003.

"Given that Pennsylvania's 6th District has one of the highest populations of veterans in the nation," said Lorin Walker, VETPAC Vice President, we need to make sure that the congressman from that district will understand and represent the sacrifices and fight for the needs of veterans."

The Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy is a political action committee that supports veterans running for federal office. It seeks to promote the principles and values for which veterans have served our country, fought and died. The defining commitment of VetPAC is to bring the unique perspective of America's veterans to issues of security, democracy and justice, a perspective born out of patriotism, forged in service and in battle, and paid for in blood.

Manan Trevedi has also been endorsed by VoteVetsPac:

The largest progressive group of veterans in America, VoteVets.org PAC, today endorsed Dr. Manan Trivedi in his campaign for Congress from Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District.

"Manan is a rare breed," said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org. "As a doctor and a veteran, Manan has a unique and first-hand experience on some of the major issues of our time. For veterans, his understanding of the wounds of war and what it takes to treat them will make him an exemplary Congressman for all veterans. For his district, he will prove to be a fighter - like he's always been."

Dr. Manan Trivedi is a combat veteran of the Iraq war veteran and a primary care doctor from Reading, PA. He was commissioned in the US Navy in 1996.

His unit was one of the first US ground forces to enter Iraq during the initial invasion in 2003. As commander of the medical team, he led his staff in treating Marines and Iraqi civilians who suffered over 300 traumatic injuries during the first three months of the war. For his service, Dr. Trivedi earned the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Commendation Medal and his entire unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

He served as a health policy advisor to the Navy Surgeon General and the Department Head of Emerging Health Policy for Navy Medicine's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. He also was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.

Dr. Trivedi has conducted research in the areas of military and veterans' health, pharmacoeconomics and access to mental health care. He has also advised political leaders on heath care issues, most recently serving as a health policy advisor to President Barack Obama during the 2008 elections.

Dr. Trivedi currently holds privileges as a board-certified internal medicine physician at Reading Hospital and Medical Center.

Manan Trivedi has also been endorsed by:

National Organization of Women
Transport Worker Union, Local 234 and Iron Workers Local 405
Ironworkers Local Union 401
Teamsters BLET Division 231
Asian Pacific Americans for Progress
Indian American Leadership Council
DailyKos: Orange to Blue
Don Arthur - 35th Surgeon General of the US Navy

and many, many others.

To find out more about Manan Trivedi and to volunteer or donate, please visit his website.