A former automotive designer and private and public-school teacher, the Honorable Kerry Bentivolio served with the US Army for 27 years full and part-time and is a combat veteran of both Vietnam as an infantry rifleman (1970-71), in Iraq in 2007 as an Operations Staff NCO for a Combat Convoy unit with Michigan National Guard attached to the 82nd Airborne Sustainment Brigade, LSA Adder, Iraq.
He served with the 87th Mountain Infantry, US Army Vietnam, 119th Field Artillery, 177th Military Police Brigade as part of the S2 Intelligence staff, and the 82nd Artillery (MLRS) of the Michigan Army National Guard, where he served as the Battalion Master Gunner. He was medically retired in 2010 from the National Guard after a MEDEVAC from Iraq in 2007 for a neck injury he suffered during a rocket attack.
SFC Bentivolio was awarded The Excellence in Competition Badge for Pistol, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Award (2nd Award), Army Achievement Medal (4th Award), Air Force Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon (3rd Award), Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3rd Award), Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (3rd Award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device and 20 year device, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Campaign Medal with Device 1960, and a Combat Infantry Badge.
SFC Bentivolio was selected to the US/UK Soldier Exchange program on 3 separate occasions, representing Michigan Army National Guard, serving with the 101 Royal Artillery at Salisbury Plain Training Center in England and in Tenby, Wales.
Rather, his stories are told in terms easily understood: What happens when a regular citizen finds himself in the extraordinarily irregular spot of being a member of the United States Congress? What happens when an ordinary Joe finds himself in front of a phalanx of reporters? Or when the man bumming a cigarette off of him is the Speaker of House?
Kerry’s stories are what Congressional life is really like for those elected to represent us and illuminates why Washington D.C. seems so out of step with the nation as a whole. From envious local politicians scheming to undermine his time in office, to his greatest triumphs in our nation’s capital, the Honorable Kerry Bentivolio can tell you what it was like to be blessed with the opportunity to be a real Mister Smith Goes to Washington.
Grilling Doctor Gruber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jK8-wEvct8
Holding Lois Learner in Contempt speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rI7zmnPbkE
OSGF Committee: IRS Abuses of Tea Party Groups. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0PUpy0m__g
Funding road and bridge repairs without raising Taxes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R4jpJDHlws
2015 Walk to Washington DC to support veterans: https://youtu.be/FcPWAWJ6tay
email: press@kerrybentivolio.org
