Navy veteran urges respect for elders and better disaster preparedness during public comment

The public commenter, an aviation machinist's mate in the U.S. Navy who said he served two cruises to Vietnam with VF-191 in 1970 and 1971, recalled his service and urged residents to respect elders and prepare for emergencies.

"It was for me an honor to be able to protect our freedom," the public commenter said, describing pride in military service and in defending the Constitution. He described the reaction he sometimes gets when he mentions his Vietnam service, saying people tell him he "shouldn't be proud" and that the war was not won.

The commenter placed responsibility for that outcome on political leaders, saying, "We weren't allowed to win the war. We could have, but the politicians wouldn't allow us." He said that experience—going to war but being constrained by policy—was one of the most disappointing parts of his service.

He offered a personal account of frightening moments on shipboard duty, describing an alarm announcement of "general quarters" and saying he felt vulnerable because sailors aboard carriers lack personal weapons and relied on aircraft and ship defenses. "That was probably the scariest thing I've ever been in my life," he said.

Linking military experience to civic life, the commenter urged younger people to value family and community, saying, "life isn't just about you" and urging more respect for elders. He also warned about threats he described abroad and how service members help prevent such outcomes at home.

Turning to local risks, the speaker noted California's exposure to fires and earthquakes and called for improved public education and preparedness for emergencies. "If you want to make things happen in this world, you got to get involved with different activities around you and care about other people," he said.

The public comment ended without any formal action. No votes, motions or official responses are recorded in the transcript.