To the editor:

My older brother, Col. Warren A. Polking, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He would have been shocked and disgusted that a politician would have the gall to use the hallowed grounds of the cemetery for a political photo op.

My younger brother, Lt. Mark R. Polking, probably falls into ex-President Trump’s terminology “suckers and losers” as he lost his life when his jet plane flamed out while serving his country in the U.S. Air Force.

There are approximately 3,500 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Its recipients combine the values of bravery, courage, sacrifice, integrity and a deep love of country.

When ex-President Trump was in office he gave the Medal of Freedom to various political supporters, and later boasted it was more prestigious than the Congressional Medal of Honor. One of the recipients was Mrs. Sheldon Adelson. Her qualification — she was a very large donor to his campaign.

This is the same Donald Trump who applied and received five deferments during the Vietnam War, thereby avoiding military service.

Mr. Trump, where is your sense of decency?

Dean Polking

World War II veteran

Fort Dodge