Early History:  As a teenager,  Donald was sent to a military school  to learn discipline. He later worked with his father as a young man in the real estate business.  He learned to circle certain potential clients with a large C for those they would not accept as clients.  C meant Colored.

During the Vietnam War,  Donald Trump had a doctor verify that he had “bone spurs in his heels” and used that to dodge the draft .  Years later when that doctor was interviewed, it was not clear if this excuse was valid.

When one of his sons suggested he would go into the service,  Trump said  “ If you do, I’ll disown you.”

Update to 2020:  A record of his statements about the military and actions he took  since becoming president have been reported and compiled.  At present, there is a fierce explosion of comments he made that appeared in The Atlantic reported by their Editor in Chief  Jeffrey Goldberg.  Here are some that are being discussed on Cable News and in The New York Times and TheWashington Post :

Trump was in France in 2018 and a visit to The  Aisne –Marne American Cemetery was canceled , “due to rain”.  Later, he told senior members, “Why should  I go to that cemetery?  It’s filled with  losers.”   A leak to the press was that he did not want his hair mussed up by the rain.

When he returned from the visit, he was so impressed with the military parade in Paris  that he wanted a similar parade here  on Pennsylvania Avenue . He would be saluted when they passed his box.  Another requirement Trump wanted was that “No wounded soldiers would be included in the parade.  It didn’t look good.”  Defense Secretary James Mattis was successful in downplaying the idea of a military parade of any kind in D.C.  Trump had seen one in North Korea and loved it there as well. 

Another incident occurred when he was standing next to  his Chief of Staff ,  Former General   John G. Kelly   at the grave of  his son who had died during wartime . After the service at the military cemetery filled with rows of hundreds of  white tombstones, Trump  turned to him and said “I don’t get it .  What’s in it for them?”  

The first time the president insulted Senator John Mc Cain became an indelible memory for many Americans.  He said very succinctly when a discussion of heroes was being recorded.  “I don’t consider soldiers who have been captured as heroes.  I only like the ones who were not captured.” Those  were his words for Mc Cain who was shot down and tortured for five years by the North Koreans.  After John Mc Cain died,  the staff lowered flags at the White House and Trump complained that he didn’t want them down.  John Mc Cain had “killed his Health Care Bill “and Trump never fore gave him for that.  However, the staff prevailed and the flags stayed down.

The Atlantic article also included  examples of Trump calling soldiers who had died in war , “suckers”.   The response on cable news channels from former military commanders has been harsh   on hearing  this label for the troops they commanded during wartime.  “Disgusting” said one.

Trump has repeatedly called the article and the uproar from military leaders a HOAX…his favorite label .  He denies the quotations  that are affirmed by multiple people in each case.   He has gone on the offensive and said today, “The generals want war. They benefit from combat and the economic boost.”  Yet we know that Eisenhower for example did not want us to enter WW II.  And most generals deny his accusation vociferously.  

This morning, Trump said, “The troops love me. That’s what’s important.” 

Post script:   Senator Tammy Duckworth was a combat helicopter pilot in Iraq,  when an enemy rocket exploded inside the cockpit shooting down the plane. Her co-pilot saved her life, carrying her unconscious to the medics.  Duckworth lost both her legs that tragic day.  She received the  Purple  Heart and retired in 2014 as a Lieutenant Colonel. She is seen as a hero by most Americans.

Donald Trump said of her, “She didn’t know how to handle the helicopter.”   Her response was to create the perfect label for him.   We all know he loves to give unflattering nick names to people he sees as  political enemies.   Duckworth coined “Cadet Bone Spurs”  for Trump, the Draft Dodger.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Joyce S.  Anderson