In April, Rep. Bruce Braley, 1st District, sent me an email concerning his recent trip to Iwo Jima. He accompanied survivors of that horrific Marine/Navy World War II battle. He talked about his late father, a Marine, having served there at that time. I shot back saying the Marines did not serve there; they fought like hell.

Ben Lange’s father is a Vietnam era vet. The Army sent him to Germany rather than Vietnam. I only learned this by directly asking Lange. Previously, he did not volunteer that his father had served his country.

I believe Braley is trying to connect with 1st Congressional District vets and their families by advertising his father’s World War II military service (a general term applying to those who have been in the military). Lange is no less proud of his father’s military service. However, he has chosen not to advertise that he is a vet in order to get votes.

Do not cast your vote based upon the individual candidate’s father’s military service. Rather support and vote for the one who, as our congressman, will best support our military — the right size with the right capabilities to defeat our enemies in the long global war on terrorism.

Robert H. Halbert

Lt. USNR Retired

Independence