To the Editor:
I am a veteran of Iraq (twice) and Afghanistan. I have seen war hero’s in action first hand. As much as I disagree with some of Mr. Trump’s remarks, just being a POW does not make McCain a war hero. In fact his military career was remarkably average and his academy performance was dismal. He mostly achieved what he did because of his father’s clout. So getting captured did not suddenly make his a hero.
A hero is defined as “a person of distinguished courage who has performed a heroic act.” The military is very, very clear on what acts earn medals for heroism. None of McCain’s conduct was heroic. Getting captured is not a heroic act.
Many of the men and women who served in the Middle East have shown extraordinary courage in the face of the enemy and many have paid the price. Many have done far more than McCain yet go unrecognized. Sorry to say, Mr. Trump is correct on this issue. Furthermore, McCain has done very little for his fellow veterans while in office and the huge V.A. hospital scandal started right in McCain’s home state. He has done very little to address that either.
Larry D. Thomas
St. George, Utah