First of all, he is a war hero. Two purple hearts, two bronze stars, a silver star, and the Navy Cross. Here is the citation for the Navy Cross:
The Navy Cross is presented to James H. Webb, Jr., First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 10 July 1969, while participating in a company-sized search and destroy operation deep in hostile territory, First Lieutenant Webb's platoon discovered a well-camouflaged bunker complex that appeared to be unoccupied. Deploying his men into defensive positions, First Lieutenant Webb was advancing to the first bunker when three enemy soldiers armed with hand grenades jumped out. Reacting instantly, he grabbed the closest man and, brandishing his .45 caliber pistol at the others, apprehended all three of the soldiers. Accompanied by one of his men, he then approached the second bunker and called for the enemy to surrender. When the hostile soldiers failed to answer him and threw a grenade that detonated dangerously close to him, First Lieutenant Webb detonated a claymore mine in the bunker aperture, accounting for two enemy casualties and disclosing the entrance to a tunnel. Despite the smoke and debris from the explosion and the possibility of enemy soldiers hiding in the tunnel, he then conducted a thorough search that yielded several items of equipment and numerous documents containing valuable intelligence data. Continuing the assault, he approached a third bunker and was preparing to fire into it when the enemy threw another grenade. Observing the grenade land dangerously close to his companion, First Lieutenant Webb simultaneously fired his weapon at the enemy, pushed the Marine away from the grenade, and shielded him from the explosion with his own body. Although sustaining painful fragmentation wounds from the explosion, he managed to throw a grenade into the aperture and completely destroy the remaining bunker. By his courage, aggressive leadership, and selfless devotion to duty, First Lieutenant Webb upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Graduated from the Naval Academy in 1968 and Georgetown Law in 1975.
Served as committee counsel for the House Committee on Veterans Affairs from 1977-1981. Also taught at the Naval Academy and represented veterans pro-bono.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs from 1984 to 1987.
Secretary of the Navy from 1987-1988.
After that he worked as an author and journalist. He won an Emmy Award for his 1983 PBS coverage of the U.S. Marines in Beirut.
He has written 9 books (both fiction and non-fiction), several of which have been best-sellers. Webb wrote the story and was the executive producer for the movie "Rules of Engagement".
His son, Jimmy, is also a marine who has served in Iraq.
Perhaps his most important credential is that he was publicly opposed to the invasion of Iraq from the beginning.
He was elected to the Senate in 2006 on a campaign of economic populism and rational foreign policy.
More here:
http://webb.senate.gov/jim/And here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Webb
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