Col. Jack Jackson — the Wildwood Republican whose brief run for lieutenant governor left him frustrated at his own party — will be stumping today for GOP presidential contender and fellow veteran John McCain.

Jackson, like McCain, fought in Vietnam.

After incumbent Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder reversed his position on running for governor, it torpedoed Jackson’s own ambitions, leading him to take a role with the McCain camp, where earlier this month he was elevated to state co-chair.

Later this morning, Jackson will be near Kansas City, helping McCain announce his veterans steering committee, part of a string of “Veterans for McCain” rallies across the country.

In addition to Jackson, McCain’s veterans committee includes Platte City State Rep. Jason Brown — a Purple Heart winner who served in Iraq and the Balkans — and Joe Frank of Sunset Hills, chairman of the Missouri Veterans Commission, a state agency.