An experience to forget

I am a World War II, Korea and Vietnam vet, and I believe Philip Weller (Letters, May 23) is jealous because Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers assists active and retired service members and their families.

I wish I had Mr. Weller with me in the Philippines the day a dug-in Japanese outfit killed 107 men in my 200-man infantry company. Two days later, although I was wounded, the first sergeant detailed me to assist Graves Registration by cutting off my friends’ hands and fingers so as to retrieve watches and rings for next of kin. I was 19 and thought I was tougher than a sun-dried Texas cowboy boot. In five minutes, however, I was crying so hard I was having trouble seeing to do the job.

Weller seemed to be bragging that he had never been in the service. I guess I would have agreed the black night the Japanese chased the Manila leper colony through our lines and we killed several of them. I wonder if Weller has ever wondered what he would be doing now if we had lost the war.

Weller is the one who should be ashamed, and so should the Socialist-Review for printing his letter.

Keith E. Cress

Spokane