Vietnam vet thanks Fiorina for pro-military comments

MARION - Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina pointed at John Nieland's raised hand expecting to hear a question during her campaign event at Lowe Park Community Center on Friday.

Unexpectedly, Nieland, 75, of Marion, stood up in front of the 150-plus attendees, removed his 50th anniversary, black Special Forces Airborne Division baseball hat and waved a hundred dollar bill in the air.

'It's time I give you the thanks you deserve,” Nieland said placing the bill in the hat. Turning to address the crowd, he said, 'I am going to stand at the door and collect hundreds, fifties, twenties, tens, fives and ones to help this amazing woman go all the way.”

Fiorina walked into the applauding crowd and thanked Nieland, a former Marion mayor and city council member, with a hug.

'I support anyone who has the kind of support she does with our military,” said Nieland, a Vietnam veteran. 'I just thought I needed to do something that would show how much I support her, and how proud I am to have been in the military.”

Nieland's act was sparked by Fiorina's detailed pro-military comments during Thursday night's televised GOP debate in Des Moines. With two hats circulating the room, Nieland's hat campaign collected a quick $790 for Fiorina.

'I was so honored, and it touched my heart. That was very special for me,” Fiorina said after speaking.

Fiorina's speech emphasized the underutilized potential America has and laid out her blueprint 'to take our country back,” a plan that includes simplifying the tax code, passing zero-base budgeting legislation, repealing Obamacare, standing for religious liberties, securing the nation's borders and defeating ISIS.

According to RealClearPolitics' polling average, the former chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard is registering 1.8 percent support among likely GOP caucusgoers.

'I just don't think people understand how smart she really is,” Deb Woock of Cedar Rapids said. 'She is a natural-born leader and would make a wonderful president.”

Fiorina's campaign is making a final surge, with visits to Dubuque, Manchester, Waterloo, Mason City, Ames, Waukee, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport and West Des Moines before Monday night's caucuses.

'We have had a great ground game in Iowa with my great campaign team,” Fiorina said. 'You send me out of here with wind on my back, and I will go all the way.”