His draft records are public record. Anyone can look them up.
Yes, Mr. Trump was never drafted, but I never said he was. I said he was reclassified 1A and then passed the physical given by his draft board. If he'd been the son of a farmer or coal miner, he would have been called. And I can guarantee you, any draft board in West Virginia would have pulled the trigger immediately on a guy who had already gotten four deferments.
With an Ivy League degree and a politically connected father, he likely would not have seen combat unless he requested it. He could have served his time as a general's aide or whatever, and all of us could respect that.
At no point have I defend Kaepernick, who's nothing but another spoiled rich kid. I am merely observing that Trump has not earned the right to question anyone's patriotism. He just needs to STFU.
Have I served? Nope, and since I am a few years younger than Trump, I never faced the hard choice that he did. Had I done exactly what he did, I hope I would have the integrity to let those who did serve make the points about honoring country.
My dad served as a naval officer in WWII, and my youngest son is an Army captain with orders to go to Korea next year. He has a Ranger tab and served two deployments in Afghanistan, one as a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne during the surge of 2010.
I don't think I am any more or less patriotic than any other free-born American. I'd like to think I know patriotism when I see it -- and that I recognize a Sunshine Warrior when I see one.