A highly-decorated military veteran has stepped down from his position as a member of U.S. Rep Susan Wild’s following her remarks in January about Carbon County voters.

Maj. Gen (Ret.) Marvin Jay Barry, of Franklin Township, submitted his letter of resignation to The Honorable Susan Wild, United States House of Representatives.

Wild, a Democrat, said on a Zoom call that she was “dismayed” over representing a county that backed former President Donald Trump. Carbon County voters supported Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

Wild represents the 7th Congressional District, which picked up Carbon County in redistricting following the 2020 census. The county was previously held by U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, also a Democrat.

“After Trump came along, it went from a sort of working-class blue district to a - they drank the Trump Kool-Aid - and it really became a red county,” Wild said. “So, I was dismayed when I got that as part of my district. But what I have learned is since then is they were sorely neglected at the federal level under their last representative, who was a Republican.”

After the fallout, Wild issued a statement to Fox News Digital, saying she was honored to represent the people of Carbon County.

“It’s the honor of my lifetime to represent Carbon County in Congress and am grateful for the partnership I have with my constituents there,” she said. “The first thing I did upon representing Carbon County was open an office in Lehighton so I could assist as many constituents as possible in dealing with federal agencies.

“I’ll continue to work tirelessly on their behalf,” she said.

That wasn’t enough to convince Barry, a Republican, to continue to serve as a member of Wild’s Congressional Military Academy Nominations Board.

“I am writing this letter to inform you that I am resigning my positions as a member of your Congressional Military Academy Nominations Board, effective immediately,” Barry said in his resignation letter. “I feel that remarks you made in a Jan. 29 news report were extremely offensive to your constituents in Carbon County where I have been a longtime resident.

“I have waited this long because I wanted to research your response to the news report and read other reports about previous remarks made by you about the good people from Carbon County. My research did not change my mind.”

Barry said that he has served on other Service Academy Selection Boards in the past few years “and have always put political affiliation and rhetoric aside because I felt so strongly about serving on these boards.”

“Your remarks crossed a red line for me. You owe the people of Carbon County an apology for your unflattering remarks.”

Barry said he has also written a letter to the other members of the board explaining the reasons for his decision.

“I know the board will continue to serve in an outstanding manner led by the professional guidance of Fern Roopchand, and for that reason I am able to leave with a clear conscience.”

Barry is a 1966 graduate of Lehighton High School, and a 1970 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He served two tours in Vietnam, a tour in Oman during Desert Storm and was assigned to the Air Force Staff in the Pentagon for three tours as a general officer. His military decorations include two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star and six Air medals.

James Logue Jr. contributed to this report.