Ronn Easton deployed to Vietnam and served with the 5th of the 42nd Artillery, II Field Force. While there, he was exposed to the chemical defoliant Agent Orange and experienced the loss of his comrades. He saw others grievously wounded, and returned home to a society that neither fully understood nor appreciated his sacrifice.
Around the same time, Donald Trump was faking “bone spurs” to obtain five draft deferments. He later called avoiding catching STDs his “personal Vietnam,” and has spent decades denigrating the service of people like Ronn who actually served. He is, without question, the most anti-veteran president in American history.
Now, he’s cutting billions from the Department of Veterans Affairs budget and slashing headcount by tens of thousands. That means potentially lifesaving research eliminated, worse care and longer wait times for disabled vets like Ronn, and a reduction in critical services like the VA’s suicide hotline—which Ronn himself has had to rely on before.
For someone who put on this country’s uniform and served proudly, this is all too much. That’s why Ronn is out with this new video, telling his story and calling out Trump’s disastrous, anti-American war on veterans. Ronn knows the importance of the programs that Trump is thoughtlessly eliminating, because Ronn has depended on them all his life.
There’s a stark dividing line in American society between those who serve and those who don’t. Trump’s cuts are making that chasm even greater, and screwing over those who risked their lives to keep the rest of us safe.
Trump doesn’t understand that sacrifice because he’s never had to sacrifice anything himself, and he shows no appreciation for the sacrifices that others make on the country’s behalf. “What was in it for them?” he infamously asked of the war dead at Arlington. It’s our job to call him out for that gross misunderstanding of our national creed, and of the loyalty and patriotism that inspire our brave service members to put on the uniform.
All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Ronn is a good man and a good soldier who served with distinction. We should all listen to what he has to say.
Home of the Brave is a new initiative highlighting the harms of Donald Trump’s second term.
