I began writing this piece because I was appalled by what Donald Trump had said about our veterans, calling them “losers” and “suckers.” In the back of my mind I had an inkling it might be old news by the time it made it into print, because another Trump scandal or two would take over. And one has: Trump knew about the seriousness of the pandemic early on and did nothing about it. He said he didn’t want to cause a panic and his base out there will swallow that even though we’re in the worst position worldwide because other world leaders told their people the truth and acted immediately to do things to control the spread. But I digress.
I’ve had relatives and friends in all the wars from World War II on, some serving multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iran. Others were active in the Gulf War. Some are currently serving. My mother’s cousin’s story is one that especially touches me. His name was Norman. He and my mother grew up together as children. Later as a teen, he lived with my parents for a while. I’m not sure of the circumstances, but I know he didn’t have much of a family life. Norman enlisted in the Army, was stationed at Pearl Harbor, and eventually became part of the 101st Airborne Division when it was activated in 1942. As a member of the Screaming Eagles, he trained for air assault. On the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944, while parachuting into Normandy, France, Norman was shot three times and died. My mother grieved for him up until she passed away. In a box of her things, I found his letters home to her and the dreaded “We regret to inform you…” telegram.
Norman was just another one in Trump’s book of losers, buried in the cemetery in France the American president couldn’t be bothered to visit to honor the memory of those who gave their lives in World War II. He left that to all the other leaders from countries involved. “Why would I want to visit a cemetery filled with losers?” His words and actions weren’t a total surprise because in the past he’d mocked John McCain, a Gold Star family, and comforted another grieving family on the loss of a son in battle by saying, “Well, he knew what he was getting into.”
I had a friend who carried Korean War shrapnel in his body until the day he died. What a “loser” he was. Other friends, “suckers,” were getting shot and blown up in Vietnam, some coming home with multiple Purple Hearts and life-altering physical and mental injuries, while bone-spurs Donald was winning bowling trophies with his college bowling team. I guess his bone spurs magically disappeared. To be clear, I’m the same age as Trump and during the Vietnam War, the majority of us draft age boys were trying to avoid the military- sponsored trip to Vietnam. Most of the guys I served with were 22- or 23-year-olds, having been drafted right out of college. It was those with family connections who were able to pull strings to get to the head of the long-waited lists for the Army Reserve or the National Guard. But it was the ones with money who could buy excuses to avoid military service entirely. The remainder was made up of guys who couldn’t afford college. They were the 18-year-olds getting drafted and sent to war. Poor “suckers.” Money talks.
When the Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club brought the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall to Aurora in 2013, I volunteered to assist visitors, many of whom still shed tears for loved ones, Trump’s “suckers and losers,” heroes whose names were forever emblazoned on the wall. It turns my stomach every time I see Trump salute some member of the military. As far as I’m concerned, he hasn’t earned the right.
I know there are plenty of you out there, even some of my fellow veterans, who will excuse Trump’s words and actions, call it fake news, and still feel that Trump’s your golden boy. I’m not one. For me, his comments were the last straw. No matter how many times Trump will say he never said those things (What else would he say?), his statements have been documented, attested to by at least four reliable sources for the Atlantic magazine story, and even two additional sources verified by a Fox News correspondent, no less.
Of Donald’s 30,000-plus lies to date, there is one I’ve come to believe is true. It’s the one where he said he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue in New York City and many individuals still would vote for him. Close to 40 Million of those individuals are drinking the Trump Cool-Aid.