Due in part to an incident in Danville, the Veterans of Foreign Wars national office has taken action to dissolve its political action committee.

The local event happened on Oct. 13 when a representative of the VFW's political action committee presented Democratic congressman Jerry McNerney with a campaign donation and announced the group's endorsement of the two-term incumbent.

Among other things, McNerney was lauded for securing federal funds to build a new veterans hall in Danville.

The incident angered some local veterans, including VFW member Jack Freethy of Lafayette. He fired off a letter to the VFW headquarters in Kansas City.

In it, Freethy said he felt the endorsement went "beyond the responsibility and charge of the VFW." He said he wouldn't support any further VFW activities unless the organization made its political action committee stop its political activities.

Freethy acknowledged he is a Republican and supported McNerney's opponent, David Harmer of San Ramon. However, Freethy said he would have objected if the VFW committee had endorsed a Republican.

"This tarnishes the good name of the VFW," said Freethy. "We should not be in the business of endorsing political candidates."

VFW leaders agreed. In late October, Richard Eubank, the organization's national commander, sent out an e-mail and posted an announcement on the group's website.

Eubank said VFW leaders believed the committees had "failed to represent the best interest of VFW members."

Among other things, he said the endorsement process favored incumbents who could secure federal money.

Eubank used his authority to withdraw all the appointments to the political action committee. He also will ask those attending the annual VFW national convention in August to dissolve the committee.

Jerry Newberry, the VFW's director of communication, said the group had received numerous complaints from across the country this fall about political endorsements. He said the committee was formed to represent the VFW's interests in Congress and the endorsements went beyond the committee's role.

David Norris, a Republican and former state commander of the VFW, was the committee representative at the Danville event. He could not be reached for comment.

Another participant was Danville Mayor Mike Doyle, who announced his personal endorsement for McNerney.

Doyle said he was surprised by the VFW's reaction. He also said he has been criticized by fellow Republicans for endorsing a Democrat.

However, the mayor said McNerney has always been a supporter of veterans programs and he was proud to endorse him.

"I would do it again tomorrow," Doyle said. "In fact, I'd do it again 20 minutes from now."