Ron Kovic’s Possible Bid for Election to Congress

I served in the Marine Corps, in Vietnam, at the same time as Ron Kovic. I even served at the same place, Cua Viet, where he was wounded. I watched while one of our own Marines, out of fear and panic, machine-gunned to death two fellow Marines, who were 19 years old.

Hardly a day goes by when I don’t think about those kids and the constant sorrow of their parents and relatives over their loss. Like Kovic, I faced the personal disillusionment and general public apathy on my return home. But I never lost the faith that took people like myself and Kovic to Vietnam.

Martin Luther King Jr. lost his life believing in that same dream, that, although far from perfect, democracy is better than any other system on earth and, given time, it does work. King didn’t ask for guarantees that his efforts would help others. The world hasn’t been improved by people who need proof that their efforts will benefit humanity.

If Ron Kovic wants to run for Congress and bring the “Jane Fondas” to this district, he is going to find out in a hurry that the majority of Vietnam veterans don’t want flag- and draft-card burners to speak for us. Let him go to China to run for office. He can see firsthand how his “potential friends” handle outspoken people.

ANTHONY J. KELLY

Newport Beach