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tanbuns:
Here is an article I found about TAR7 contestant Kelly McCorkle, who is teaming with former Iraqi War POW Ron Young.

Staffer out to prove ‘beauty queen’ is not ‘shallow’
By Emily Horne
 
You think life on the Hill is competitive? At least you don’t have to pose in a bathing suit and high heels for your keep.

Kelly McCorkle, who joined the staff of Rep. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) in January, came to Capitol Hill fresh from her reign as Miss South Carolina 2002. McCorkle, who won the title of Miss South Carolina on her third entry into the pageant, placed in the top 15 of the Miss America competition and made over 450 public appearances during her reign — a schedule that would exhaust most lawmakers.
   
“Being Miss South Carolina was such an honor,” McCorkle reflected. “For kids to come up to you and say you’re an inspiration to them … I will carry that with me for the rest of my life.”

McCorkle, a native of Greenville, S.C., is one of De-Mint’s two legislative correspondents. Her policy areas include veterans affairs, defense, Social Security and education, which is dear to her heart.

“I was diagnosed with dyslexia and auditory processing deficits when I was 5,” says the 25-year-old staffer. “Teachers told my parents I would likely not graduate from high school and certainly not from college. Even my dance teachers said training me was a waste of time and money.”

McCorkle would later make learning disabilities and education her pageant platform. “It’s a part of who I am,” she says. “I’m not embarrassed about having [dyslexia].”

McCorkle credits her religious faith and the support of her family for helping her find her passion for dance and graduate from high school a year early. “I hated school and was just miserable there, though my grades were OK,” McCorkle said.

After graduation, McCorkle headed to New York to study with the Joffrey Ballet and Alvin Ailey dance company. While in New York, McCorkle heard about an opportunity to dance in the Miss South Carolina pageant back home. “I had never thought of entering a pageant, but I thought ‘Hey, it’ll be on TV,’” she said, laughing. The gig led to competing in the pageant the following year, which won McCorkle scholarship money to study at North Greenville College.

“I identify with Sandra Bullock in ‘Miss Congeniality,’” McCorkle says, “because before I got involved with pageants I assumed all the girls were stuck-up and snotty.”

Well, isn’t there some truth to most stereotypes? “I was pretty shocked when I got to Miss America and some of the other girls had really filthy language and bad morals. I kept thinking ‘And you want to be a national role model?’ But most of the girls were awesome.”

Another beauty-pageant myth revealed: Contestants do use glue on their bottoms to keep suits from riding up. But McCorkle said she was not aware of any alternative uses of Preparation H (which some say is used to smooth a puffy or lined face).

McCorkle got involved with politics in the same accidental way she came into pageants. “I had actually hated politics until a friend, Rita Allison, ran for lieutenant governor of South Carolina in 2001,” McCorkle said. “I did some campaign events for her and really fell in love with the energy of the crowd and the people I met. I don’t know how I ever thought politics were boring or irrelevant.”

While traveling as Miss South Carolina, McCorkle often encountered DeMint and his staff. When the lawmaker suggested she work for him after her reign, McCorkle interviewed for a position on his Senate campaign. The job she was offered, however, was in Washington.

“It’s very strange for me to come to a place where everyone is your age, single and enjoying it,” she said. “Everyone at home is getting married and starting families, and in Washington, it’s OK to be focused on your career.”

Fellow staffers seem to enjoy having a beauty queen in their midst. “I’m pretty modest about the title because I know a lot of people equate ‘beauty queen’ with ‘no brains’ or ‘shallow,’” said McCorkle. “My staff all knows, though, and they seem to like to tell people. Most people just ask a lot of questions, though other women have been known to get a little catty.”

McCorkle has attracted media attention for her yearlong relationship with former POW Ron Young, whose Apache helicopter was shot down near Karbala, Iraq, last March. Young, a member of the 1st Battalion of the 227th Aviation Regiment, and McCorkle were first set up when he escorted her as she passed on her title last April. The two have been together ever since.

McCorkle and Young recently had dinner with Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.), who is encouraging Young to pursue a political career.

And McCorkle herself? “I want to keep working for Congressman— hopefully soon Senator— DeMint as long as he’ll have me. But I can see myself running for Congress someday.”
 

tanbuns:
Here is an article on TAR7 contestant Ron Young Jr........

http://premierespeakers.com/3134/index.cfm


Ron Young
POW During Operation: Iraqi Freedom

Growing up in Lithia Springs, Georgia, Ron Young, Jr. had dreamed of flying jets since he was a young child of five. When he learned he could fly Apache helicopters if he joined the Army, he enlisted. On March 23, 2003, during his first combat mission in the Iraqi war, he and his copilot, Chief Warrant Officer David Williams, went down with their Apache Longbow helicopter amidst fierce gunfire about 50 miles southwest of Baghdad. In desperation, the two warrant officers eluded the pursuant Iraqi soldiers who were close on their heels and shooting at them for more than an hour before they were finally taken captive and held as prisoners of war for 22 days. Two attempts were made to rescue the pilots, but the fire was so heavy – “like a hornet’s nest” – that those first efforts were unsuccessful. Finally, Young, Williams and the other five POWs were rescued by the Marines. “That was awesome… beyond words. I was ecstatic… greatest day of my life,” Young said. “I felt as if I had won the lottery of life." Ron is currently working as a cable news special contributor for coverage 

tanbuns:
Another article on Ex POW Ron Young


Ex-POW speaks at local banquet

Atlanta man supports war and president

By James L. Rosica
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER


Being a POW for 23 days hasn't changed Ron Young's opinion of the American presence in Iraq.

"We're doing the right thing for the right reasons," he said in an interview. Young, an Eagle Scout, was in Tallahassee on Wednesday to speak at the local Boy Scouts' Golden Eagle fund-raising banquet.

The former Army helicopter pilot was shot down near Karbala in a firefight on March 24, 2003. He was in an Apache with fellow soldier David Williams, helping clear the way for ground troops.

The men were captured and held for almost a month. At one point, Young said, they didn't know whether they would be killed by their Iraqi captors or by American bombs when they were moved to Baghdad.

At one point, "I prayed for 12 straight hours," he said. "I kept thinking, 'Are we going to live through this? Just give me a sign.'"

In the capital, they were held with another group of American prisoners, including Army Spc. Shoshana Johnson. Finally, the Marines got a tip to their location and freed them.

Freedom began Young's transformation into a war hero, wanted speaker - and possible political candidate.

"Zell Miller has become a friend," Young said, referring to the U.S. senator from Georgia, Young's home state. "He's ... I'd say, 'encouraged' me to think about running for office some day."

In the meantime, Young is out of the Army and a salesman for a company producing hazard gear for chemical and biological weapons. Not that he mas much time to sell - he said he now spends half his month on the road on the lecture circuit.

In the coming weeks, Young, who now lives in Atlanta, is scheduled to speak in Michigan, Washington state and to walk in an Armed Forces Day parade in South Carolina.

He's also long-distance dating Miss South Carolina 2002 Kelly McCorkle. She asked him to be her date last year at the pageant when she passed on the crown.

"He's the most amazing man I've ever met," said McCorkle, who now works in constituent relations for U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., in Washington.

"He strongly believes in supporting his country and his president," she said of Young. "And he's just so funny. He makes me smile nonstop."

His remarks to the Scout supporters will be serious, however.

"I'll be talking about making a difference, developing a strategy for changing people's lives," he said. And about his 23 days in captivity.

"Even as a POW, you could tell some of them were happy we were there," he said. "There's definitely a bunch of Iraqis who hated Saddam and wanted him gone.

"Of course, now they want us gone," he added. "They don't want to be occupied indefinitely."

But some Army families were told this week to expect a 120-day extension after U.S. commanders asked for at least 10,000 more troops in Iraq.

"We have to stay the course," Young said. "There's no way we can pull out now without destabilizing (the provisional) government."


puddin:
Wow ..I'm impressed thank you for the articles Tanny  :<(  I remember this now..wowowow
 His partner Kelly sounds like a real sweetheart ..YAY a Beauty Pagaent Queen with morals  {l{

puddin:

  Local team competes in next ‘Amazing Race’/2-10
By Richard O Jones

By Richard O Jones


JournalNews

HAMILTON — Somebody in town is keeping a big secret.

Somebody in Hamilton knows who the winners are in the seventh installment of “The Amazing Race” reality television series on CBS.

Following the completion of the sixth “The Amazing Race” Tuesday night, CBS announced the competitors for the next event, and Susan Vaughn of Hamilton and her son Patrick are among the 11 teams.

But they’re not talking about it, because according to their agreement with CBS television, they could forfeit the $1 million prize — if they are, indeed, the winners.

The Emmy Award-winning reality adventure series pits teams against one another in a race around the world for a $1 million prize. “The Amazing Race” will begin with a special two-hour premiere, 9 p.m. March 1.

Patrick, 26, is a graduate of Hamilton High School now living and working in Los Angeles as a writer. Susan, 54, is a Hamilton resident who works as the director of the Office for Judicial Affairs for Miami University.

Although she is currently out of town on university business and unavailable for comment, she left specific instructions with her husband John Vaughn, who also works for Miami University in the Information Technology Services.

“I have a note here that she left me,” he said. “It says, ‘Please remember not to talk to any press.’”

But Holly Wissing, spokeswoman for Miami University, said that she believes Susan and Patrick will do quite well in the competition.

“I’m not at all surprised that she and her son were chosen,” Wissing said. “She’s a very polished and savvy professional.

“I imagine Susan will be a real tough contestant because she thinks well on her feet and can maintain her calm. I don’t know how the race will turn out, but she’s a winner in my book.”

The competitors for the upcoming “The Amazing Race” include Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich, the runner-up and winner of the CBS series “Survivor: All-Stars.” They are now engaged.

The Vaughns also competed against a stockbroker and his girlfriend from Youngstown, Ohio; two 20-something female friends from Woodbridge, Va.; a gay couple from West Hollywood, Calif.; a married couple from Houston; a motivational speaker who was also an Iraq War prisoner of war from Georgia and his girlfriend; two 30-something male best friends from South Carolina; a retired couple from Easton, Maryland; female roommates from Oak Park, Calif.; and two brothers from Santa Monica, Calif., one a bartender, the other a bouncer.

“The Amazing Race” sent these 11 teams on a trek around the world for approximately 30 days, according to CBS spokesperson Kim Sartori. At every destination, each couple had to compete in a series of challenges — some mental and some physical — and only when the tasks were completed did they learn their next destination.

Couples who are farthest behind are gradually eliminated as the contest progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning $1 million.


Contact Richard O Jones at (513) 820-2188, or e-mail him at rjones@coxohio.com.


source~


 http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/02/09/

 
   

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