Major Mark A. Smith. US Army Retired. Former POW. Shares with us some thoughts about the John McCain v Donald Trump dustup. I think regardless of how one might feel about either of these men, Major Smith’s words have some weight. Think of it as a reality check. –Marky
USA — re Donald Trump and Senator McCain: Former Green Beret and POW Major (ret.) Mark Smith emailed me today from Thailand with this:
“There are no sacred cows in politics able to attack any and all with impunity, take totally dumb positions on some issues and then have others defend them as untouchable.
“Senator John McCain is my fellow returned prisoner of war and for his time in prison he and all the rest of us have been honored again and again. Our number run the gamut from incredibly brave to incredibly weak and cowardly. One thing about our number is certain,none of us enjoys any special protection within the political arena. General Eisenhower took off his five stars when he entered the arena and expected no special consideration. When he spoke out on a subject during his political campaigns he expected no flying squad to arrive and defend him based on his wartime service.
“I want the country I fought for back.
“From illegals with all their kiddies to the supposedly bulletproof few in Washington I say OUT if you snuck into my country and stand on your record today if you wish to attack another and allow nobody else to carry your water for you. John McCain is a man and if he wishes to attack others in the arena they are allowed to bite back. I think John understands that better than many who use him as a stalking horse to attack Trump. Some will use the opportunity to attack John McCain and that is a load of crap also.
“WE ALL LOST OUR SACRED COW STATUS LONG AGO!!!!
“The other candidates are merely using this tempest in teapot to gain political advantage.
“Senator McCain attacked Trump and claimed those supporting him were ‘crazies’ because Trump took a stand on illegal immigration when he did not.
“That opened the door and Trump fired back.
“GETTING CAPTURED WAS NOT THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY OR ANY RETURNED PRISONER’S WARTIME SERVICE AND YOU HAVE TO LOSE A FIGHT TO GET THAT STATUS.
“MOST OF WE RETURNED PRISONERS OF WAR REALIZED THAT OUR COUNTRY NOT ONLY WISHED TO HONOR THE SACRIFICES MADE IN THE COMMUNIST GULAG BUT ALSO WISHED TO MAKE UP FOR ALL THOSE BRAVE WHO FOUGHT THEIR BEHINDS OFF ON BEHALF OF A GENERALLY UNGRATEFUL NATION AND WERE NEVER EVEN THANKED.
“WHAT DID TRUMP REALLY SAY?
“‘I LIKE WINNERS AND NOT LOSERS.’
“In other words honor those who fought and never lost a fight and those who fought and died beside them first.
“I fought my wars with relish and spit in the eye of mine enemy in captivity, I require no media or political defenders because my honor stands on it’s own merits.
“I come from the generation of leaders who ate last in the chow line and honored their soldiers first.
“Just cut the crap and get my country back!”
Major Mark A. SMITH,USA,Retired
RPW,Vietnam\Cambodia
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