Today the nation celebrates Veterans Day. I would like to mention who the true heroes are in all the wars in which America has been involved: the Navy corpsman and the Army medics.

In the Marine Corps, the Navy Corps are naval personnel assigned to a Marine infantry company. They eat, sleep and go wherever we go.

So do the Army medics: They are “foot soldiers,” but they do not carry any weapons. They are targets for the enemies, wearing the “red cross” on their helmets and arm bands like telling the enemies, “Here I am.”

Each of them deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor, for they truly go “beyond the call” of their duties. They risk their own lives helping to stop the bleeding of the wounded, and give them morphine to stop the pain. These are the guys we say are “heaven sent” to allow us to become “living” veterans with another chance in life.

Saying “thank you” is all we can say to them. To all the Navy corpsmen and Army medics serving now and in the future, we salute you and may God keep you safe.

Philip K. Ho

Waialae-Kahala

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Not wise to punish ‘distracted’ walking

The new law citing a citizen for being “distracted” by looking at a device while walking in a dedicated crosswalk, is ill-conceived and borders on unconstitutional.

In essence, it will punish a citizen for being “distracted” by the device and not able to observe the surroundings and drivers.

If this same argument and reasoning is correct, it can be applied to other situations.

Elderly citizens with osteoporosis should be treated the same way in a crosswalk. They are bent over, looking only at their next step and not at other conditions beyond their control, including approaching drivers. This condition is the exact definition of “distraction.”

Should these elderly citizens be punished the same way as other citizens who are “distracted” by their devices? Both should not be.

Ken Chang

Waihee Valley

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Use air bladders to lift fishing boat

Maybe the U.S. Navy can put air bladders under the wrecked fishing boat and float it off the reef, or a crane on a floating platform could lift it off (“Derelict fishing boat becomes dangerous lure,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 8).

A last resort would be the U.S. Marines from Kaneohe using a hovercraft to push it off.

I’m pretty sure they can’t pull the boat off.

Raymond Apana

Aina Haina

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American flag isn’t a fashion statement

What is Bruni Bradley doing wearing an American flag as a shawl (“Whirlwind tour,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 4)? Please explain this confusing show from the wife of Adm. Harry Harris. If it is a piece of clothing and not a flag, the fashion statement is unacceptable coming from this woman of all women.

Would she have worn the same “outfit” at the Punchbowl? Help me understand this, please!

Carol Pierpont

Hawaii Kai