In Saginaw, Michigan, a group of U.S. military veterans gathered recently not only to campaign but to share stories of their service and why this election holds special importance for them. The veterans, decorated with badges from conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam wars, met to phone-bank for Kamala Harris in a swing county of a pivotal state. However, before they started calling, they expressed a collective disdain for Donald Trump, describing him as “the devil” and a threat to the values they hold dear.
Many of the veterans served decades ago, and their experiences in combat have strongly influenced their outlook on democracy and respect for fellow citizens. This historical perspective shapes their opposition to Trump, with some refusing to even speak his name. Former Air Force electrician Josie Couch voiced her concerns passionately: “Kamala’s opponent – he’s like the devil and isn’t hiding it,” she said. Couch, who is Black, recalled a career marked by struggles against sexism and racial inequality. “He wants to erase all the rights we fought so hard for,” she continued. Others in the hall cheered her on, echoing her sentiment that they would not let hard-won progress slip away.
For these veterans, the issue goes beyond policy – it’s about the respect Trump has shown, or failed to show, toward the military. Many present were angered by his derogatory remarks about veterans, recalling Trump’s infamous 2015 insult to Senator John McCain and his disparaging comments about war dead in 2020. Dave Salogar, a Vietnam War veteran, shared his family’s story of immigrating to the United States, underscoring the sacrifices made by immigrants like his grandmother, who later became a U.S. citizen and sent her sons to fight in World War II and Korea. Salogar, who lost numerous jobs after Vietnam due to post-war trauma, expressed his contempt for Trump’s statements on veterans, saying, “The man called us suckers and losers.”
In addition to veterans like Salogar, Jerry and Dale Blunk, a couple who met during their military service in Iceland, also spoke up. For Jerry, Harris’s candidacy represents an opportunity for long-overdue change. Dale expressed even stronger reservations, warning that Trump’s return to office could jeopardize American democracy itself: “With unlimited power and no respect for others, he’s a danger to our country.”
For many of the veterans, the stakes have never been higher. As Salogar reflected, “I’ve seen incredible courage and sacrifice – things that make America truly great.”
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