EDITOR:

In 1967 over the most heavily defended airspace in the world, antiaircraft fire hit John McCain’s A-4E Skyhawk. Ejection broke both of his arms and a leg. Miles behind enemy lines he was imprisoned and tortured. A year after McCain was shot down his father was promoted to a senior position in the US Navy. The Vietnamese offered to free McCain. Concerned the enemy would use his release to torment other POWs, McCain refused the offer. He would not accept release until all POWs were released. He spent another 4.5 years imprisoned and tortured until all POWs were released.

In his first campaign for president Donald Trump said McCain was a only a hero because he had been captured and Trump preferred people who weren’t captured. Trump ignored McCain’s selflessness in flying bombing runs over enemy territory and facing torture for an indeterminate time to support other POWs.

Trump’s denigration of John McCain was not a one-off disrespect of the military. He frequently mocked military forces. For example, during a 2018 trip to France Trump refused to honor 1,800 WWI Marines who died in Belleau Wood. He called them suckers and losers.

In contrast to Trump’s view of Marines being suckers and loser was President Reagan’s view. At a 1985 Veteran’s Day event honoring those, who like the 1800 Marines who lie near Belleau Wood, who served America, President Reagan’s said, “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in this world. The Marines don’t have that problem.”

Trump’s former Chief of Staff, Marine General John Kelly, confirmed Trump’s insult of the Belleau Wood Marines. Kelly related more instances of disrespect for those who gave extraordinary service to America. He said,”A person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all ‘suckers’ because ‘there is nothing in it for them.’ A person that did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because ‘it doesn’t look good for me.’ A person who demonstrated open contempt for a Gold Star family — for all Gold Star families — on TV during the 2016 campaign, and rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in America’s defense are ‘losers’ and wouldn’t visit their graves in France…A person that has no idea what America stands for and has no idea what America is all about…A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law…There is nothing more that can be said…God Help us all.”

Richard Clark

Escanaba