Posted on 07/20/2015 5:13:39 PM PDT by familyop
A group representing retired military officers called Monday for Donald Trump to apologize to Sen. John McCain and all veterans for his disparaging remarks about the Arizona Republican's military service during the Vietnam War.
"We should acknowledge the facts: John McCain cares deeply about our men and women in uniform, and through his actions, he has made a real difference for our troops. Mr. Trump owes Senator McCain and all veterans an apology," said Retired Navy Vice Adm. Norb Ryan, president and CEO of Military Officers Association of America.
At a Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa, the real estate mogul and 2016 presidential candidate said in regards to McCain, "He's not a war hero...He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."
His remarks, in response to McCain saying Trump had fired up the anti-immigration "crazies" at a recent Phoenix rally, prompted a strong rebuke from Republicans and veterans group, who rallied to McCain's defense.
Trump addressed his remarks in a USA Today op-ed on Sunday, saying that the media had distorted his words and that McCain had "abandoned" veterans.
The group defended McCain's record on helping veterans.
“Senator McCain will not say it, but let me state the obvious: John McCain is a military hero, and most importantly, he has always been a champion for the all-volunteer-force and our nation’s veterans," Ryan said.
"We can disagree with some of Senator McCain’s positions at times, but we can never say he has abandoned the troops," he said.
He noted that under McCain, the Armed Services Committee had a full debate and vote on the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act — which funds the Pentagon and the military — for the first time in three years.
"John McCain has proven his sincerity and passion for the troops. Leadership is about setting an example and not words," he said, adding, "no one has visited our troops in Afghanistan or Iraq more than John McCain."
McCain last visited troops in Afghanistan over the July 4 weekend.
Other veterans groups have rallied to McCain's defense as well.
"Trump’s asinine comments about Sen. John McCain’s service are an insult to everyone who has ever worn the uniform — and to all Americans," wrote Paul Rieckhoff, CEO and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America wrote in a New York Daily News op-ed on Monday.
"He is very capable of defending himself, but a public attack on one veteran’s service is an attack on us all," he added.
And John W. Stroud, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, also bashed Trump.
“For someone who never served a day in uniform to criticize the service and sacrifice of a combat-wounded veteran is despicable," he said, according to the Washington Post.
And I consider it blasphemy to smudge the straight-arrow prisoner-of-war record of a man who was near death when he arrived at Hoa Loa prison 1967: both arms broken, left leg broken, left shoulder broken by a civilian with a rifle butt.
He was eventually taken to the same rat-infested hospital room I had occupied two years earlier, and, like me, he had surgery on his leg. By then the Vietnamese had discovered that his father was the ranking admiral in the Pacific Fleet, and he received an offer that, as far as I know, was made to no other American prisoner: immediate release, no strings attached. He refused, thereby sentencing himself to four more years in a cell.
Still waiting for the link to where I quoted him.
That is what you said.
Thanks in advance. I now you’re pretty busy.
Wasn’t it one of those fine officers that just denied weapons to defend themselves to our military Recruiters?
Disgraceful.
The following is one of many sites debunking the slander and crazy talk about POWs and MIAs.
MIA Facts Site
http://www.miafacts.org/
Thanks for that info. I saved it to share with some folks on email.
If anyone needs to apologize, it’s McCain, who’s voted to cut veteran’s benefits as a Senator.
Trump has a more traditional view of what a “hero” is.
Audie Murphy would be a good example, not a ex pow..
I suppose that the younger generations do not understand this concept. But back in the day, POW’s were not considered hero’s and in fact a hero was a defined thing, not a general term for a veteran, fireman or policeman.
And I consider it blasphemy to smudge the straight-arrow prisoner-of-war record of a man who was near death when he arrived at Hoa Loa prison 1967: both arms broken, left leg broken, left shoulder broken by a civilian with a rifle butt.
He was eventually taken to the same rat-infested hospital room I had occupied two years earlier, and, like me, he had surgery on his leg. By then the Vietnamese had discovered that his father was the ranking admiral in the Pacific Fleet, and he received an offer that, as far as I know, was made to no other American prisoner: immediate release, no strings attached. He refused, thereby sentencing himself to four more years in a cell.
Well how would Stockdale and Day know what mclame said to the enemy?
Are they not relying on what mclame told them?
LOL
Nice...
Hmmm no response huh.
Now now, you shouldn’t talk about mclame and his demoncrap friends like that.
The horse has left the barn folks. Trump had a chance to fix it but he waited too long. Now everything he says will be dismissed as something as equally insane as....“I like people that weren’t captured.”
The longer he waits the farther away that horse will get.
Bump! McCain is scum.
Still waiting for the link to where I quoted Stockdale. Come on hot shot. Put up or shut up.
Another FReeper already proved my point regarding the standing order that all POWs hold out to leave at the same time.
You’re really having a hard time aren’t you.
You can’t link me to where I quoted Stockdale. You can’t accept that Stockdale’s policy as senior officer was that all POWs would leave together.
Tossing out a number of Stockdale comnents doesn’t change the facts of the sitaution.
And Stockdale details his policy in his own book.
So you’re just flailing to keep above water here, so you can mislead people about the facts of the McCain early release story line.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3314458/posts?page=80#80
I really like Trump and I agree with you.
Tonight on O’Reilly all Trump had to do was say that his remarks were out of context as to McCain being a war hero, say very affirmatively McCain and any others who served and/or were POW’s were hero’s. Would have taken 10 seconds.
Then he could have gotten back to bashing McCain while watching his (Trump’s polls) rise to 35% while confounding all the GOPe who thought this might take him out.
Instead Trump went with this ridiculous line about how Cheryl Atkisson said what Trump said was correct. Donald—you’re the one who said it. Why do we need Cheryl to interpret it for us? You have the mic on O’Reilly, tell us what you really meant there.
Thought he blew a golden opportunity tonight on O’Reilly.
The fact is that a hero is made when a average man finds himself faced with a impossible situation and somehow beats the odds, saving himself and others.
Other than the above description, hero’s only exist in comic books.
In my view, McCain is not a hero. Not even close.
He is what he is,,,,,
The Admiral’s son..
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