Veterans offer much to today’s workplaces

Don Tyne is not fit to lead the Linn County Veterans Affairs Office. Regarding veterans, he stated, “They're trained to kill and there aren't any jobs that require that qualification.” (“Veterans face tough job hunts,” Sept. 5 Gazette).

Our veterans are skilled workers, trained leaders, heavy machinery operators, truck drivers, chefs, computer operators and include nearly every skill and occupation. In addition, they bring self discipline, a high sense of responsibility, superior job/mission completion attitudes and team spirit to the job. They also are trained to operate complex weapons and sophisticated support systems.

To lump veterans together as killers is not only incorrect, it is distasteful and reveals the smallness of Tyne's grasp of the problems facing our veterans. Additionally, why does the veterans affairs office sponsor a Five Seasons Stand Down for non-veterans, too? If there aren't enough homeless veterans to attend, then it shouldn't happen and the tax money better spent.

It looks like nearly

30 percent of the article is the president said this and the president said that, tax credits this and speech that. Useless banter while the true needy veterans suffer. The Linn County Veterans Affairs Office does exactly what?

Ken Lowen

Central City