When we returned home from fighting a war in Vietnam, we veterans were not afforded many of the kudos, hero's welcomes and laudable praises that current veterans receive as they return home. I think this is great — finally, we are realizing that true sacrifices are made by these young men and women when they leave their lives and families behind. But one thing that none of us earned as we gave up years of our lives to defend this country: a get-out-of-jail-free card.
I, and I hope many of my fellow veterans, are angry and appalled that Jeffrey Trevino's lawyer would use this man's military service to beg for leniency for committing murder ("Steger family: He deserves no mercy," Nov. 26). I like to believe that the "Greatest Generation" of our fathers extends to, and continues within, our big brothers in Korea, us in Vietnam and our children in the Middle East today. To say that a person should be forgiven of killing his wife because he once wore a uniform is a slap in the face of every veteran who ever served. If it were nerve gas or Agent Orange or PTSD that caused this behavior, there may be some room for discourse, but these were never brought up.
You have a right and obligation, counselor, to fight the good fight for your client. Just don't besmirch the service that millions of us gave to our country by using that service as an excuse.
