Local Vietnam Veterans Share Their Reasons for Backing Trump or Harris

In the ongoing political discourse surrounding veterans’ issues, two local Vietnam veterans, David Lucier and Patrick McCobb, have emerged as distinct voices, each supporting different candidates in the upcoming presidential election.

David Lucier, an Army veteran with a rich history of service, has voted for Vice President Kamala Harris. He leads the Arizona Veterans and Military Leadership Alliance and also serves as a committeeman for the Maricopa County Democratic Party. Lucier, who served in Vietnam and later as a security contractor in Iraq, draws on his extensive military experience to advocate for Harris. “She’s smart, experienced, humble, knowledgeable, strong, courageous—qualities that Donald Trump lacks,” he stated.

Reflecting on his military background, Lucier emphasized the importance of voting, especially after having been deployed during his early adulthood when he was ineligible to participate. “I shed a lot of blood for people’s voting rights. You have a responsibility to vote,” he urged, indicating that Harris’s commitment to equal justice under the law aligns with his values.

Conversely, Patrick McCobb, who served in the Navy, has firmly backed Donald Trump. McCobb cites Trump’s business acumen as critical in managing what he perceives to be an economic crisis. “The American economy is a giant corporation; we need someone like Trump at the helm,” he claimed. His involvement with local veterans’ organizations, including initiatives to assist homeless veterans, bolsters his assertion of Trump’s suitability to address their needs.

McCobb appreciates Trump’s past efforts to reform the Veterans Affairs system, particularly the establishment of the Community Care Program, which provides alternatives to VA healthcare. He believes that the administration’s policies on border security and international relations are fundamentally sound, critiquing Harris on these fronts. “Her perceived lack of agency is alarming,” he remarked, asserting her qualifications for the presidency are lacking.

Both veterans exhibit a clear conviction in their choices, shaping their views through personal experiences and service backgrounds. Lucier’s emphasis on democratic values contrasts sharply with McCobb’s focus on economic and security issues, highlighting the complex relationship between veteran affairs and political ideology.