Mohave Daily News: Opinion

Choosing the American president is very different than voting for a political party in European elections where the party leader is positioned to carry out a certain promised platform open to approval by a particular electorate. American people desire to know about the character, values and personality of a candidate even more than his or her stand on current issues. Of course issues matter; but in the final analysis voters will vote for the candidate they trust, like and feel comfortable with. After all during the 2000 campaign one of the major issues was prescription drug coverage. Less than a year later the country was attacked and the new president faced very difficult national security decisions.

Here is a story that is not widely known. It was revealed in Wall Street Journal and told by the spouse of Vietnam POW Air Force Col. Bud Day.

When Col. Day was recaptured after his escape attempt from a North Vietnamese prison, his captors broke his arm as punishment, and in order to also break his hope to fly his fighter plane ever again, they decided to cripple him for life. They left part of the bone sticking out of his arm and used a misshapen cast so that the arm would heal at a non-straight angle which would disable him permanently.

Bud Day's roommate at the Hanoi Hilton was a young officer named John McCain. Despite the risk of severe torture for punishment, McCain secretly collected bamboo pieces in the prison courtyard. Then he laid Col. Day on their cell floor and by pushing his foot put the broken bone in place and used the bamboo as a splint with the help of bandage from his own wounded leg.

Many years later when American surgeons were impressed with his treatment, he told them that it was “Doctor” McCain who deserved the credit. Col. Day was able to fly his fighter jet gloriously again and today he is enjoying retirement while carrying the Congressional Medal of Honor on his chest.

Now Sen. John McCain is asking for “one more chance to serve this beloved country a little while longer.” With a resume filled with honor, integrity and valor, he deserves that chance.

Will Tannery

Fort Mojave

Energy generation has many options

Editor:

I would like to thank Roland Chambers from Topock on his rebuttal of my husband's letter on energy generation. I am glad he is thinking!

However, my husband is not a lawbreaker in his suggestion. To turn a DC motor to a generator just reverse the polarity. More and larger alternators can be used. Put a fan on them. Toss some solar cells on top.

If a reciprocating engine-driven car can use a battery, why could not a water-driven engine use a battery?

By the way his middle initial is F for - find out, not E for - elemental.

Alice Duffy

Bullhead City