PRESS RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY      
February 6, 2008

MORRIS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES
“VETERANS COALITION”
Mayor Ben Morris, Republican Candidate for Congress, has announced the formation of
his Veterans Leadership Coalition. The Coalition is led by distinguished Colonel
Murphy Neal Jones, USAF (Ret.). The focus of the group is to unite the thousands of
retired and active duty military personnel in the 1st district behind the candidacy of
Mayor Morris.

Morris Only GOP Candidate With Military Experience
Ben Morris is the only Republican candidate who has military experience. Morris rose
to the rank of Colonel in the United States Army after more than three decades of
service to his country. As an Army Logistics Expert, Ben served in Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, Egypt, Somalia and Panama and has circled the globe numerous times. Ben
studied three foreign languages: German, Arabic and Mandarin Chinese and is a
graduate of the Army Arabic Language School. Before Morris was elected Mayor of
Slidell for the first time in 2002, he was three times elected Slidell Chief of Police. Ben
Morris worked for more than a decade as a Federal Narcotics agent for the DEA working
cases ranging from street level dealers all the way up to major drug traffickers.

Decorated Veteran Calls Colonel Morris Extremely Qualified
“During more than six and a half years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, I drew
upon my ‘five faiths’ to survive,” said Colonel Jones. “My faith in God, my country, my
family, my fellow prisoner and faith in myself, which was built upon the other four
faiths,” continued Jones. “All of the ‘faiths’ are important, but faith in my fellow POW
created a tremendous bond among us. We learned to trust each other with our lives,”
said Colonel Jones.

“Over several years, I have watched Ben Morris build a trust among his neighbors and
the people he has served as Slidell's Police Chief and Mayor. Our country is in a world
war against global terrorism, drugs and crime, and massive problems of illegal
immigration and homeland security. Ben's background as a U.S Army Reserve colonel,
DEA agent, police chief and mayor make him extremely qualified to solve these
problems. I know I can trust Ben Morris with my life. I would be proud to go into
combat with him,” concluded Jones.

About Colonel Murphy Neal Jones
Colonel Murphy Neal Jones was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He graduated from
Tulane University in 1960 and received his commission as a second lieutenant the same
day. On his third combat tour in Vietnam, he was shot down, seriously wounded and
captured. After more than six and one half years as a prisoner of war, he was released
on February 12th, 1973.

Neal returned to the cockpit after his release and served as Commander of the 357th
Tactical Fighter Squadron and as Chief of the War and Mobilization Planning Division,
Headquarters United States Air Force. He retired as a colonel after twenty-one years of
service.

His military decorations include: Silver Star, Legion of Merit (2), Distinguished Flying
Cross, Purple Heart (2), Bronze Star for Valor, Air Medal (2), Air Force Commendation
Medal, Prisoner of War Medal. Neal is a member of Tulane’s Athletic Hall of Fame as
well as Baton Rouge High School’s Hall of Fame. For more information on the
candidate, visit www.benmorrisforcongress.com.

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