95-year-old Bob Dole promoted from Army captain to colonel

Lawmakers passed a bill this week to give an honorary promotion to former Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) for his time serving in the U.S. Army.

Dole, 95, served in World War II for which he earned two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars for valor. The legislation authorized his honorary promotion from U.S. Army captain to colonel. 

{mosads}His promotion was unanimously approved by the House on Tuesday. It passed the Senate earlier this month. The legislation to honor him was introduced by the entire Kansas delegation.

“I was so proud to see the House quickly recognize and pass this bill honoring our legendary Kansas Senator, Bob Dole,” Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said in a statement. “There is no one I can think of more deserving of this honorary promotion than our true Kansas hero, Senator Dole.”

Dole represented Kansas in Congress for 35 years, serving in both the House and Senate. In 1996, he unsuccessfully ran for president.

The former longtime GOP lawmaker thanked members of the Kansas delegation for the honorary promotion.

“I was proud to wear our nation’s uniform 77 years ago when I enlisted, and my pride in America’s brave service men and women continues today,” he said in a statement.

Thank you to @RogerMarshallMD, @SenPatRoberts, @JerryMoran, @ArmyChiefStaff and members of the U.S. House and Senate for this honor. pic.twitter.com/4yMVlBHaS0

— Senator Bob Dole (@SenatorDole) March 26, 2019