The selflessness of service is a hallmark of the Active Duty and Veteran community. The acts of selflessness have carried on since the inception of the United States and ingrained in our country starting with our founding fathers. Each of the founding fathers who signed the Decoration of Independence risked their lives. By signing the Decoration of Independence, they were committing treason. If they had lost the revolution they would have been executed for treason. Our founding fathers had their flaws but were not losers and suckers and neither are those who serve, have served, and died in the line of their service.
When I had first heard the report about President Trump saying that those who died in the Belleau Woods battle were losers, I thought to myself, no he didn’t. The President of the United States could not make comments like that. I tried to find a way to dismiss the comments, but the history of this President reminded me that the comments that our dead were "losers" and "suckers" fell in line with his past behavior. These comments would not be believable if President Trump did not have a track record of making disparaging comments and treating veterans with contempt.
Before you start saying the report is “Fake News” The report has been confirmed by Fox News, the Associated Press, and Military Times to name a few. I did not want to believe it however, this type of comment is in the Presidents pattern of behavior, so it makes it more believable. Below is a list of comments and actions by President Trump that has made these comments believable.
· He has called John McCain is a loser for being captured
· Fought to not allow flags to be flown at half-staff for John McCain’s death
· He has called George HW bush a loser for being shot down
· He has told a war widow that her husband new what he was getting into
· Took Military money from the pentagon designated for base construction to pay for the wall
· Continues to use military Active Duty and Veterans as props.
· Saying that he knows more about the military and ISIS than the generals
· Stated his Vietnam was in the college dating scene.
· Standing with General John Kelly's sons grave and stating “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”
· He said “I know John Kelly, he was with me, didn’t do a good job, had no temperament and ultimately he was petered out,”
· He stated that General Dunford, former chairman of the Joint Chief of staff, was a smart guy, why would he join the military
· Belittled Gold Star Families
· Donald Trump called former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis “the world’s most overrated general”
· Told his planners that he did not want wounded veterans in the military parade in Washington DC he stated That is not a good look, Americans do not like that “Nobody wants to see that.”
· The President stated that we should not go after MIA troops because they “had performed poorly and gotten caught and deserved what they got.”
· Refused to act against Russia for paying bounties on American Servicemen and women.
· Pardoned war criminals
· Gone through 5 Secretaries of the VA providing little to no continuity over a 3-year period
· Used Military Against peaceful protesters
· Refuses to meet our fallen at Dover when they come home
· Called TBI injuries headaches
· Refused to confront Russia over their vehicle ramming ours and causing injuries
· Abandoning the Kurdish
· Took almost 2 years to visit a combat zone. He conceded his personal safety was one thing that kept him from visiting. President Obama visited Iraq 3 months after he was inaugurated.
· “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” and referred to the more than 1,800 Marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed.…
Even if half of the above is false, the other half makes it plausible that he said what was reported about the war dead interned in France. Military Officials have confirmed that Trump has little regard for anyone who died for our country. He feels they are a failure because they were killed. He does not understand what sacrifice is and question those who serve. This president has been no friend to Active Duty or Veterans community. His constant inability to understand why we do what we do is unfathomable to him. He has never had to sacrifice for anything, he does not get it. The President does not understand sacrifice.
I take exception that I am a loser and a sucker for joining the Air Force. I also take exception to the President calling our brothers and sisters losers and suckers. I have had enough! I am starting to get angry and frustrated that so many folks, including some active duty and veterans, are OK with this. I challenge all those who believe its “fake news” Just go listen to the President’s comments, on tape. Do your research. Are there biases in the news… you bet they are, but you have biases toward those who attack you, why should the media be different?
For questions or comments you can contact me at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at www.afterdutyvets.com. I also have 2 books on Amazon if anyone wants to read more about veterans and their struggles. Living the Dream: Nightmares of Military Re-integration and Living the Dream II: Nightmares of Navigating the VA System.