Letter: Look up the meaning

Published 12:15 am Saturday, August 31, 2024

In reply to Matt Janes’ letter to the editor on Aug. 20:

Again, I suggest you find something positive to write about instead of finger-pointing or fault-finding.

Sgt. Tim Walz, in his impassioned speech about the urgent need to remove assault weapons from our streets, inadvertently misspoke when he claimed to have carried the weapon he was holding into war. This was a human error, a moment of fervor in his compelling argument. We all, including you, have likely misspoken at some point in our lives.

As for your claim of stolen valor, no, there is not a shred of validity to that claim. Unlike you, I was in the military, serving in the Navy for four years on destroyers, providing fire support to our troops in South Vietnam. I don’t need advice from anyone about the meaning, as I can quickly determine stolen valor, and his rank has nothing to do with that.

He served 24 years, none of that time behind a typewriter. We should all appreciate, and not denigrate his service to our country, as we do with Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance (or whatever his name is now).

As for comparing Coach Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, to Wes Cooley? Actually, can you find a better comparison? I think you should look up the meaning of stolen valor.

LEE JETTE

Astoria