John DeCamp

John W. DeCamp (July 6, 1941 - July 27, 2017) was a controversial Republican politician from the state of Nebraska who served in the Nebraska legislature from 1971 to 1987. He served as an infantry officer in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. In 1975 he initiated Operation Baby Lift, which evacuated 2,800 orphaned Vietnamese children. In 1992, DeCamp wrote a mass market paperback book titled The Franklin Cover-up: Child Abuse, Satanism, and Murder in Nebraska in which he alleged the supposed existence of a Franklin child prostitution ring which supposedly involved murder and Satanism. Born in Neligh, Nebraska, DeCamp joined the United States Army during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of captain in the infantry. He was decorated for his service in Vietnam. In 1975 he initiated Operation Baby Lift, which evacuated 2,800 orphaned Vietnamese children. He was later assigned to serve as an aide to former CIA director William Colby, who was deputy ambassador to Vietnam at the time. Beginning his campaign for election while still stationed in Vietnam, DeCamp was elected and served four terms as a Nebraska state senator, from 1971 to 1987. He was described as "a strong advocate for veterans". In 1992, DeCamp wrote a mass market paperback book titled The Franklin Cover-up: Child Abuse, Satanism, and Murder in Nebraska in which he alleged that the Franklin child prostitution ring allegations were actually true and involved murder and Satanism. DeCamp served as a lawyer for the Militia of Montana, a constitutional militia movement group, in the 1990s. In 1996, DeCamp ran for the U.S. Senate as a Libertarian; he lost to Chuck Hagel. In 2006, DeCamp attempted to return to the Nebraska legislature, running for a seat in the 30th District, which consisted of Gage County and southern Lancaster County. In the nonpartisan primary, he placed fourth of six candidates, with 12.3% of the vote; the top two vote-getters moved on to the general election, in which Norm Wallman was elected to the seat. In Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers's 2008 satirical lawsuit against God, DeCamp acted as the attorney for God. DeCamp died in Norfolk, Nebraska, on July 27, 2017. He had suffered from Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.