Editor, Gazette-Journal:

In response to Mr. Joe Mereness’s Readers Write comments:

Come on, Joe … you’re writing every week and overusing your Vietnam service for political purposes. A lot of us served in Vietnam and we’re on both sides of today’s politics.

I also served over there, but compared to the thousands who were damaged, wounded or killed, I contributed nothing. We both did our duty, but what’s really shameful and concerning is that many falsely claim to have served. Please, enough with the Vietnam vet thing. We’re O.K., but so many aren’t. Because it was so different, revisiting our war can take many veterans to a very lonely place.

The Greatest Generation (inclusive context) came home from World War II, went to work, raised their families and avoided a focus on their role in saving the world. Many never spoke of their experiences or even their involvement. My first cousin, wounded on Iwo Jima, never spoke to me or my sibli...