Letter to the editor: Sen. Moran, please defend veterans from Trump’s attacks

Stand up for vets

Sen. Jerry Moran:

I am aware that you chair the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. I respect your decision last year to oppose President Donald Trump’s diverting funds from military appropriations for his border wall. I believe many of your colleagues also opposed this transfer of funds. In my opinion, senators voting against it had political cover.

I would like to state my concerns about your lack of public comment on what I consider inappropriate statements Trump has made about veterans. Many members of Congress did not defend Sen. John McCain when he was attacked by the president for being captured and spending five years in a prison camp. The president — the recipient of five military deferments — also continued to attack McCain as he was dying of cancer.

I was in the Army from 1968 to 1970 after being drafted. I served in the 25th Infantry Division. I was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries I sustained during an attack that killed others in our armored personnel carrier. Many people did a great deal more than I.

Do you remember the importance of a whistleblower in the 1968 My Lai massacre in Vietnam? Over 500 civilians, including women and children, were killed. A whistleblower was responsible for providing the truth about the incident. To my knowledge, the whistleblower was not reprimanded.

I would like to ask you, Sen. Moran, to publicly stand up for active military personnel and veterans who have been verbally attacked by the president of the United States and his supporters. Please fulfill your duties and always remember your oath of office.

- Dale E. Smilie, Fort Scott, Kansas