Webb, James Henry, Jr. (1946-…), was a United States senator from 2007 to 2013. Webb, a Democrat, represented Virginia. Prior to his election to the Senate, Webb worked as a writer. He also served as a soldier in the Vietnam War in the late 1960’s and as secretary of the U.S. Navy during part of the administration of President Ronald Reagan.
Webb was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Feb. 9, 1946. Webb’s father was a career officer in the U.S. Air Force, and the family lived in many places in the United States and the United Kingdom during Webb’s childhood. After graduation from high school, Webb attended the University of Southern California for one year. He then attended the U.S. Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1968.
Upon graduation, Webb became a first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and served with the Fifth Marine Regiment in Vietnam. For his actions in combat, Webb was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts in 1969. He later served as a platoon commander and as an instructor at the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School.
Webb received a law degree from Georgetown University in 1975. He served as a lawyer for the House Committee on Veterans Affairs in the U.S. Congress from 1977 to 1981. Webb won an Emmy Award as a television journalist for his coverage of U.S. Marines stationed in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983. In 1984, President Reagan appointed Webb as assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs. He served as secretary of the Navy in 1987 and 1988.
Webb’s first best-selling novel, Fields of Fire, was published in 1978. His other novels include A Sense of Honor (1981), A Country Such As This (1983), Something to Die For (1991), The Emperor’s General (1999), and Lost Soldiers (2001). Webb wrote the original story and served as executive producer for the film Rules of Engagement (2000). He also wrote the nonfiction book Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America (2004).
In 2006, Webb defeated incumbent Republican Senator George Allen in a close race for the U.S. Senate. Webb’s campaign called for changes in U.S. strategy during the Iraq War (2003-2011). Webb did not seek reelection to the Senate in 2012. From July 2015 to October 2015, Webb campaigned for the Democratic Party’s 2016 nomination for president.
