Commentary: Dolia and Donald

Last week we honored the life and legacy of a true Valley matriarch, Dolia Gonzalez passed peacefully from this life to the next at the age of 94.

As a single mother, she raised her son Freddy to be the man he became. Sadly, his life was cut short in 1968 in Hue City, Vietnam. His heroic deeds led to a posthumous award of the congressional Medal of Honor. Patriotic Americans everywhere know that this is the highest honor our nation can bestow. It is only given after thorough vetting through the Pentagon and congressional committees.

Following this exhausting process, Dolia was flown to our nation’s capital where she was presented this award in the East Room of the White House.

Later, when the Navy named a guided missile cruiser after her son, she attended launch ceremonies and all changes of command and received flowers from the crew on every Mother’s Day. She was their mother, beloved and respected.

Donald Trump’s comments regarding this prestigious award were unconscionable. We should not be surprised as he has a history of disrespecting everything military as he struggles to project the image of strength and manhood, his arrogance backfires. As Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez led his men through the carnage of the Tet offensive, Trump was groping women against their will on the island of Manhattan. He has stated publicly that his “Vietnam” was avoiding STDs in New York.

To my brothers and sisters currently serving active duty, think about it. This man wants to be your commander in chief again. Our military, all branches and all ranks, from chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff down to the newest recruit are facing serious challenges as the Middle East is in escalating crisis and as foreign dictators such as Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un seek to expand their borders.

A few thoughts on the congressional Medal of Honor:

“Each of you knows what it means to stare down danger in a moment of trial.” — Joe Biden.

“Of all the privileges this office affords, none is greater than serving as commander in chief of the finest military the world has ever known.” — Barack Obama.

“When you meet a veteran who wears that medal, remember that moment.” — George W. Bush.

“Extraordinary valor … above and beyond the call of duty.” — Bill Clinton.

(The Presidential Medal of Freedom is) “actually much better, because everyone gets the congressional Medal of Honor, that’s soldiers — they’re either in very bad shape, because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets, or they’re dead.” — Donald Trump.

Trump has also disrespected the Presidential Medial of Freedom by using it for political gain. Miriam Adelson and her husband were multimillion-dollar donors. Other Trump recipients were donors and controversial figures such as Rush Limbaugh, Jim Jordan and Antonin Scalia. The Medal of Freedom has traditionally gone to recipients for extraordinary contributions to our nation or the world; all other presidents have honored that tradition with recipients such as Nelson Mandela, Nancy Reagan, Aretha Franklin, Julia Child, Mister Rogers, Gabby Gifford and others.

Dolia Gonzalez was my friend. May she rest in peace.

Doss Kornegay lives in Harlingen.