This is in response to Steve Chapman’s “John McCain is a war hero. So what?” (Commentary, Feb. 27). Most of this country has forgotten what a war hero is.
If John McCain wants to keep reminding us of his time in Hanoi, he has that right.
There are people in this country who have been willing to stand up when they are called to defend their country. Most of you do not remember that time.
When John McCain was growing up the McCain “family business” just happened to be the military. There was a time, long, long ago, when young men were called to the draft to fight wars on a regular basis.
I feel I can speak about this because my husband and I were raised in central Illinois farm country, grew up, fell in love, married and became a military family.
The first 10 years of our marriage my husband was on board ship, at sea, for nine months of each of those years. I raised my family with the help of the military support system.
My husband did not see our first son for three months.
There were many, many hours spent on the pier, waiting for the ship to come in.
The military is a hard life but a wonderful life.
The bonds that are made last a lifetime.
The sacrifices made do not seem to be difficult at the time. You do what you must do to defend your country.
There is a great sense of pride in the military, and John McCain was tested to the max, whereas most of the young men who served were not.
I feel John McCain has earned the right to remind us that he spent many years defending his country.
