An Open Letter: “For Ourselves and Our Posterity”

As veterans of the United States Armed Forces and of the intelligence community, each one of us swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. We raised our right hands and pledged “true faith and allegiance,” not to a document or a piece of parchment, but rather to the ideals found within it — and to the “blessings of liberty” secured by generations of Americans who believed wholly in their promise, which they secured with their valor, their courage, and with their lives.

That oath was to something bigger than any one party, politician, or even President — it was for our posterity.

The Commander in Chief doesn’t understand this. The very notion of doing something for someone he’ll never meet, of committing to a cause that outlives him, is beyond his comprehension.

His assertion that our war dead and wounded are suckers and losers, is abhorrent. His disparaging comments are, by any objective measure, callous, disgraceful, and yet sadly, expected. They are a mere extension of what we’ve already seen and heard with our own eyes and ears on countless occasions.

On the late-Senator John McCain: “not a war hero because he was captured.” The implication? That he was a sucker for getting captured.

To the widow of a recently fallen soldier, whose name he struggled to even remember: “He knew what he signed up for.” The implication? He was a sucker for volunteering.

On retired Generals Allen and Mattis: “A failed general.” “Overrated.” The implication? Losers and suckers.

They are evidence of someone whose understanding of service and sacrifice are at best, shallow and misguided, at worst, completely absent.

We write this letter in the same week we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the end of the deadliest conflict in human history. The Greatest Generation, who suffered through the deprivation of the Great Depression then fought back tyranny, jumpstarted the most enduring and unprecedented period of economic prosperity ever seen.

We’re able to write this letter because of them, and because of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who once raised their right hand with us in mind. Not ‘us’ as Democrats or Republicans, immigrants or native-born, but rather ‘us’ as in “We the People.” They recognized that what makes this country so exceptional, so worthy of fighting and dying for, is that we’re a nation founded on a creed. Those patriots gave their last full measure of devotion, not for a king or queen, or a piece of land, but for the ability of future generations to access the blessings of liberty.

That’s the legacy of the men and women of our Armed Forces. Patriots sowing seeds that will grow neither in their lifetime nor their offspring’s, but that will one day bear fruit for Americans whose names they’ll never know.

We owe a debt to them, and to every person who has worn the uniform of the United States military. They sacrificed limbs and peace of mind, time with their families, their careers, and their lives. They did it not for medals, praise, money, or themselves, but for us.

Today, we all sit in the shade of trees planted long ago. The trees of liberty, as Thomas Jefferson once said, “refreshed by the blood of patriots.” The blood of our friends.

The President should apologize to our war dead, to their families and loved ones, to every veteran, and to the nation.

But then again, no apology would suffice.

Signed,

Iain Addleton, U.S. Air Force

Eric Altamura, U.S. Army

Bruce Alvers, U.S. Navy

Gary Anderson, U.S. Army Special Forces

Robert Anderson, U.S. Marine Corps

District Supervisor Victor Angry, Neabsco, Virginia, U.S. Army National Guard

Ricardo Arenas, U.S. Air Force

Will Atkins, U.S. Air Force

Kenneth App, U.S. Navy

Steven Bailey

J. Thomas Baker IV, U.S. Navy

John Ballard, U.S. Marine Corps

Sean Barney, Candidate for Wilmington, Delaware City Council, U.S. Marine Corps

John Barwell, U.S. Marine Corps

Thomas Bauch, U.S. Air Force

Elizabeth Beck, Candidate for State Representative, Texas, U.S. Army Reserves

State Senator John Bell, Virginia, U.S. Air Force

Elaine Belson, U.S. Army

Robert Beverly, U.S. Marine Corps

Mark Bramson, U.S. Navy

Kevin Braun, U.S. Navy

Cornelius Brothers, U.S. Navy

Chris Brooke, U.S. Army

John Brooks, U.S. Air Force

Daren Brunner, U.S. Marine Corps

Mary Buffington, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

Jason Cain, Candidate for State Representative, North Carolina, U.S. Army

Virgel Cain, U.S. Navy

Susan Camoroda, U.S. Army and U.S. Army National Guard

Elisa Cardnell, Former Candidate for Congress, Texas, U.S. Navy

Amber Cardenas, U.S. Marine Corps

Anthony Carr, U.S. Air Force

Philip Caruso, U.S. Air Force

Paulina Centeno, U.S. Navy Reserves

Chris Centner, Central Intelligence Agency

John Chiazza, U.S. Merchant Marine

Deb Ciamacca, Candidate for State Representative, Delaware, U.S. Marine Corps

Kelly Clark, United States Air Force

Sandy Cleary, U.S. Army

Chip Colbert, U.S. Army

Christopher Cole, U.S. Navy

Tyler Cole, U.S. Navy

Calvin Cooke, U.S. Army

David Cooley, U.S. Navy

Scott Cooper, Former Candidate for Congress, North Carolina, U.S. Marine Corps

Michael Coppins, U.S. Navy

Troy Coronado, U.S. Army

Robert Critchell, U.S. Marine Corps

John Cronin, Candidate for State Senate, Massachusetts, U.S. Army

Representative Jason Crow, Colorado, U.S. Army

Shané Darby, Candidate for City Council, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. Army National Guard

Buzz Davis, U.S. Army

Jim David, U.S. Air Force

Moe Davis, Candidate for Congress, North Carolina, U.S. Air Force

Matthew DeFalco, U.S. Army

Leona Degraw, U.S. Air Force

John Del Rosso, U.S. Army

State Senator Kirk deViere, North Carolina, U.S. Army

Robert Devol, U.S. Navy Reserves

Michael Diamond, U.S. Army Reserves

Greg Dietrich, Candidate for Township Trustee, Mundy, Michigan, U.S. Air Force

Daniel Dowd, U.S. Marine Corps

Senator Tammy Duckworth, Illinois, U.S. Army

Jerome Ensminger, U.S. Marine Corps

Chad Eslinger, U.S. Navy

Joe Faiella, U.S. Army

David Farwell, U.S. Marine Corps

J.J. Fenceroy, Candidate for City Council, Texas, U.S. Air Force

John Ferrari, U.S. Marine Corps

John Flores, U.S. Army

Christopher Finley, U.S. Air Force

Michael Finley, U.S. Air Force

David Fletcher, U.S. Air Force

Mike Flynn, U.S. Army

Mark Fogel, Candidate for State Senate, Ohio, U.S. Air Force

Nicole Foster, U.S. Air Force Reserves

Juan Gaona, U.S. Army

Ronald Garey, U.S. Army

Todd Garlick, U.S. Air Force

Jonathan Gensler, U.S. Army

Paul Girard, U.S. Navy

Aaron Gladd, U.S. Army

Andrea Goldstein, U.S. Marine Corps

Sylvia Gonzalez Andersh, U.S. Air Force

Christian Goodman, U.S. Navy

James Gorham, U.S. Army

Nicholas Grader, U.S. Marine Corps

Barbara Graham, U.S. Army

Jana Lynn Granillo, U.S. Air Force

Mayor Nancy Guenst, Hatboro, Pennsylvania, U.S. Army

Zachary Guerra, U.S. Navy

Cameron Guest, U.S. Coast Guard

Chester Guest, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard

Chester Guest Sr. U.S. Navy

Emmet Guest, U.S. Navy

Jim Gulecas, U.S. Navy

Marilyn Gunderson, U.S. Marine Corps

Ken Harbaugh, Former Candidate for Congress, Ohio, U.S. Navy

Debbie Harrington, Candidate for State Representative, Delaware, U.S. Army

Tanner Harris, U.S. Navy

Kyle Hausmann-Stokes,

Tara Heidger, U.S. Army

State Delegate Dan Helmer, Virginia, U.S. Army

Michelle Hernandez, U.S. Army

Neil Hester, U.S. Air Force

Josh Hicks, Candidate for Congress, Kentucky, U.S. Marine Corps

Sean Horgan, U.S. Marine Corps

Gregory Horton, U.S. Army

Representative Chrissy Houlahan, Pennsylvania, U.S. Air Force

John Howie, U.S. Air Force

RD Huffstetler, Former Candidate for Congress, Virginia, U.S. Marine Corps

Alexander Humphrey, U.S. Marine Corps

Gary Humphreys, U.S. Army

J Emil Hunziker, U.S. Air Force

Zach Iscol, Candidate for Mayor, New York, U.S. Marine Corps

State Delegate Clayton Jenkins, Virginia, U.S. Army

David Johnson, U.S. Marine Corps

Earle Jones, U.S. Air Force

Kai Kahele, Candidate for Congress, Hawaii, U.S. Air National Guard

David Kalandyk, U.S. Navy

State Senator Zahra Karinshak, Georgia, U.S. Air Force

Mary B. Kelly, U.S. Army

Michael Kerrigan, U.S. Marine Corps

Eileen Kiely, Candidate for State Senate, Oregon, U.S. Navy

Jeffrey King, U.S. Army

Stephen Kohler, U.S. Army

Thomas Krise, U.S. Air Force

Sri Kulkarni, Candidate for Congress, Texas, Foreign Service Officer

Chistopher Kurker, U.S. Air Force

Andrew Learned, Candidate for State Representative, Florida, U.S. Navy

Cheryl Lee, U.S. Air Force

Representative Ted Lieu, California, U.S. Air Force

Steve Liger, U.S. Navy

Barbara Lindsay, U.S. Navy

James Lineberger, U.S. Army

Dave Logsdon, U.S. Navy

David Lucier, U.S. Army

Representative Elaine Luria, Virginia, U.S. Navy

Tyler Manco, U.S. Navy

Jason Mangone, U.S. Marine Corps

Christopher Mannion, U.S. Air Force

Aaron Marquez, Candidate for School Board, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. Army

Chris Marvin, U.S. Army

Wesley Mattson, U.S. Army

Laura McCormick, U.S. Navy

Dan McCready, Former Candidate for Congress, North Carolina, U.S. Marine Corps

Amy McGrath, Candidate for Senate, Kentucky, U.S. Marine Corps

Brendan McKinnon, U.S. Coast Guard

Paul Miller, U.S. Navy

Brendon Mills, U.S. Marine Corps

Roger Misso, Former Candidate for Congress, New York, U.S. Navy

Raffi Mnatzakanian, U.S. Army

Cherie Morrissey, U.S. Army National Guard

Kevin Mott, U.S. Marine Corps

Representative Seth Moulton, Massachusetts, U.S. Marine Corps

Brennan Mullaney, U.S. Army

Steve Muratore, U.S. Air Force

Paul Nankivell, U.S. Air Force

State Representative Hank Naughton, Massachusetts, U.S. Army

Kathryn Neff, U.S. Marine Corps

Lisa Newman-Wise, U.S. Air Force

Kevin O’Hare, U.S. Navy

Kim Olson, Former Candidate for Congress, Texas, U.S. Air Force

Michael Orange, U.S. Marine Corps

David Ortiz, Candidate for State Representative, Colorado, U.S. Army

Steve Pappas, U.S. Marine Corps

Rafael Parades, U.S. Army

Jennifer Parenti, U.S. Air Force

Will Parish, U.S. Navy

Philip Perry, U.S. Navy

Vic Peterson, U.S. Air Force

Melinda Poole, U.S. Army

Catherine Porter, U.S. Air Force

Terry Poulton, U.S. Air Force

Tere Prasse, U.S. Air Force

Christopher Purdy, U.S. Army

Nathan Ramia, U.S. Army

Alberto Ramos, U.S. Navy

Gabe Ramos, U.S. Marine Corps

Maureen Ramsey, U.S. Army, Gold Star Wife, Blue Star Mom

Nan Raphael, U.S. Army

Wesley Reed, U.S. Marine Corps

Barry Reisch, U.S. Army

Roberta Reissig, U.S. Navy

Susan Ritz, U.S. Army National Guard

Carl Robertson, U.S. Navy

Steven Romanoski, U.S. Coast Guard

Francis Rosinski, U.S. Navy

Wayne Rowett, U.S. Navy

Tracy Rowley, U.S. Army

Amy Rutkowske, U.S. Army

Nick Ryan, U.S. Army

County Executive Pat Ryan, Ulster County, New York, U.S. Army

State Representative Terry Sabo, Michigan, U.S. Air Force

Gelnn Schatz, U.S. Navy

Amber Schleuning, U.S. Army

State Delegate Don Scott, Virginia, U.S. Navy

Vicki Scott, U.S. Army

Representative Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey, U.S. Navy

State Delegate Marcus Simon, U.S. Army JAG

Ray Skoff, U.S. Navy

Daniel Smart, U.S. Navy

Stephen Smart, U.S. Marine Corps

Kathryn Smith, U.S. Air Force

Jeremy Smith, U.S. Army

Lisa Smith, Candidate for City Council, Arvada, Colorado, U.S. Air Force

Joe Somers, U.S. Army

Former Assistant Secretary of the VA, Tommy Sowers, U.S. Army

Jayson Spiegel, U.S. Army

John Spitzberg, U.S. Army

Randall Stagner, U.S. Army

Gregory Stahl, U.S. Air Force

Ryan A. Starzyk, U.S. Air Force

Archie Stewart, U.S. Air Force

Jay Stittleburg, Candidate for State Senate, U.S. Navy

Maura Sullivan, Former Candidate for Congress, New Hampshire, U.S. Marine Corps

Loree Sutton, U.S. Army

Joanna Sweatt, U.S. Marine Corps

Anthony Swofford, U.S. Marine Corps

State Representative Joe Tate, Michigan, U.S. Marine Corps

Barbara Taylor, U.S. Air Force

Richard Taylor, U.S. Air Force

Rex Temple, U.S. Air Force

Kathy Thompson, U.S. Army

Michael Thompson, U.S. Navy

John Tien, U.S. Army

Maria Tiglao, U.S. Air Force

Malissa Torres, U.S. Air Force

Shawn VanDiver, U.S. Navy

Karyn Van Kainen, U.S. Marine Corps

George Walls, U.S. Marine Corps

Michael Washington, U.S. Marine Corps, Gold Star Father, Firefighter

Valerie Washington, U.S. Army, Gold Star Granddaughter

Justin White, U.S. Marine Corps

Jeff Whitfield, Candidate for State Representative, Texas, U.S. Air Force

Kristen Whitley, U.S. Navy

Borough Council President Claudette Williams, Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, U.S. Army

Craig Williams, U.S. Army

Scott K. Williams, U.S. Air Force

George S. Wilson, U.S. Air Force

Daniel Woodward, U.S. Air Force

Margaret Woodward, U.S. Air Force

Sonya Youngblood, U.S. Army

Joseph Zengerle, Former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force

Elaine Ziem, U.S. Navy

If you would like to add your name to the letter, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/FArK6czAXBSGzPGeA

The signatories of this letter include current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Use of their military ranks or job titles does not imply endorsement by any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Department of Defense.