Opinion
 

Letters to the Editor

No honored recipient 

To the editor:

As a U.S. Army veteran I must disagree with Tom Carpenter's column "Lynch deserves highest honor" (Opinion, Monday). It would be inappropriate to give Pfc. Lynch the nation's highest military honor when she was not alone in her struggle for survival.

I'm not disagreeing with the assertion that Pfc. Lynch is a hero, but every soldier, sailor, marine and airman who serves or has served in the U.S. military is also a hero.

Do her fellow surviving compatriots from the 507th deserve the nation's highest medal? And what about the soldiers who fell that day; do they deserve the same?

Most of our nation's heroes who received the Medal of Honor did so posthumously. It is critical to note they received the medal by going above and beyond the call of duty.

If Carpenter did more research into his opinion he would discover that most recipients of the Medal of Honor did truly remarkable service or sacrifice for their country, but most importantly, they did it for their fellow comrades in battle.

I agree that Pfc. Lynch is a hero, but to award her the Medal of Honor would dishonor the memory of previous recipients.

To modify General Patton's remarks: "No person ever won a war by being captured by the enemy; they won the war by capturing the other person."

Pfc. Lynch should receive the Purple Heart, and perhaps a Bronze or Silver Star, but not a Medal of Honor.

Robert A. Klementich
senior, management

To the editor: 

Does Tom Carpenter not know that there are thousands of men in Iraq fighting for their lives? How does he think they feel when reporters like you choose to idolize one person?

I don't think of Pfc. Lynch as some kind of hero; the men who fought to rescue her are more heroic than she is. She is no more special than any other soldier fighting in Iraq.

Carpenter really should rethink his article; it was very unfair and partial. Yes, I am glad she got out alive, but she should not be put on a pedestal above the other servicemen.

Jackie Tiller
general services assistant

Letters to the editor are welcome from all members of the UH community and should focus on issues, not personalities. Letters must be typed and must include the author's name, telephone number and affiliation with the University. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, language and space. Letters may be delivered in person to Room 151, Communication; e-mailed to dclettrs@mail.uh.edu ; or faxed to (713) 743-5384.Send comments to dccampus@mail.uh.edu