ATLANTA — Former U.S. Senator Max Cleland has died, former Gov. Roy Barnes confirmed to Channel 2 Action News.
The 79-year-old was born and raised in Lithonia and graduated from Lithonia High School in 1960.
In 1967, Cleland volunteered for service in the Vietnam War and was seriously wounded in battle that next year. He lost both of his legs above the knee and his right forearm. He was awarded both the Bronze Star for meritorious service and the Silver Star for gallantry in action.
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Cleland went on to serve in the Georgia state Senate in the early 1970 and became an advocate for veterans affairs. When Jimmy Carter became president, he was appointed to the staff of the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, where he investigated hospitals in the Veterans Administration health care system and their treatment of wounded U.S. troops returning from Vietnam.
We’ll have continuing coverage of the impact of Max Cleland on Georgia, on Channel 2 Action News
In 1977, Cleland was appointed to run the Veterans Administration, becoming the nation’s youngest VA Administrator ever and the first Vietnam veteran to head the department.
In 1996, Cleland was elected to succeed Sam Nunn in the U.S. Senate. Cleland held the seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee which was previously occupied by Nunn and Senator Richard Russell.
After his defeat for re-election in 2002, Cleland was appointed to the 9-11 Commission to study the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and to recommend safeguards against future attacks.
On June 3, 2009, President Obama appointed Cleland as Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission, managing 25 cemeteries overseas where fallen American troops from World War I and World War II are memorialized.
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Sen. Jon Ossoff released a statement about Cleland’s passing:
“Senator Cleland was a hero, a patriot, a public servant, and a friend. His advice as I entered the Senate and in the early months of my tenure have been invaluable. Georgia and the nation will deeply miss him. Alisha and I are keeping Senator Cleland’s family in our prayers.”
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