A 95-year-old World War II veteran and lifelong Republican who voted for Donald Trump denounced the president as the 'worst' Ameri...
A 95-year-old World War II veteran and lifelong Republican who voted for Donald Trump denounced the president as the 'worst' America has ever had on Thursday night, urging the country to vote for Joe Biden this fall.
Edward Good, who also served in the Korea War, was a surprise speaker on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, which featured several Republicans endorsing Biden's candidacy throughout the week.
'I think Trump has been the worst president we've ever had,' he said. 'So I'll be glad to see him go.'
Edward Good, a 95-year-old WWII and Korean War veteran, who is a lifelong Republican and NRA member denounced President Trump and endorsed Joe Biden
Edward Good shows his military patches and honors; he was a surprise speaker on the final night of the Democratic National Convention and was part of a tribute to Biden's support for the military
Good made a jump over the Rhine River during World War II, jumping out of his plane when it was on fire during a German attack
Good had volunteered for parachute training and was sent to France early in 1945
Edward Good, a native of Farmington, Michigan, served in the 17th Airborne Division and took part in Operation Varsity, when 16,000 paratroopers landed on the east bank of the Rhine, the biggest airborne operation in history
Good also spoke on the night there was a video tribute to Beau Biden, Biden's son who served in the military and died of brain cancer in 2015. The fourth night was all about the Bidens and their support of the military was a large part of the program.
Good, noting his background in the military and declaring his membership in the National Rifle Association, expressed his regret voting for Trump in 2016 and endorsed Biden.
'I am 95 years old. I'm a veteran of World War Two, and the Korean War, they were uniform,' he said in his introduction.
'I have been a Republican, since the 1960s. I'm a member of the NRA and voted for Trump,' he noted. 'I think Trump has been the worst president we've ever had. So I'll be glad to see him go.'
Good, who spoke with the American flag behind him, said he was voting for Biden in November.
'I think Joe Biden cares about doing a proper duty towards the United States and if he's elected that's what he will do,' he said.
As Good spoke, photos from his military service appeared on screen. At one point he held up his military shirt with its patches and honors. The Farmington, Michigan, native served in the 17th Airborne Division and took part in Operation Varsity, when 16,000 paratroopers landed on the east bank of the Rhine, the biggest airborne operation in history.
'I did make one combat jump over the Rhine in Germany, and I'm proud of that,' Good said in his convention speech.
He didn't offer details in his speech but that jump was done when his plane was hit and on fire.
Good had volunteered for parachute training and was sent to France early in 1945. Operation Varsity was a troubled mission; as he got ready to jump the plane was hit, and was on fire when he jumped. Good said he does not know if the crew made it out and believed they did not. Good landed under fire but survived, and spent the next few weeks advancing into Germany before Hitler's death and the Nazi surrender ended the war.
He was followed by Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois who was on the short list to be Biden's running mate.
Her own story of service and sacrifice echos that of Good's and, in her remarks, given with the Dome of the U.S. Capitol in the background, she attacked President Trump as unfit to lead the military.
'Donald Trump doesn’t deserve to call himself commander in chief for another four minutes - let alone another four years,' she said.
Duckworth, a double amputee after her service in Iraq, spoke about how Joe Biden understands the sacrifice military families face because his son Beau served. She spoke holding onto a table for balance, with her wheelchair visible behind her.
'That’s the kind of leader our service members deserve: a leader who would actually honor their sacrifices. But they don’t have that in our current commander in chief, who’s either unwilling or incapable of doing so,' she said.
Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois who was on the short list to be Biden's running mate and whose military service echos Good's, also spoke for Biden
Sen. Tammy Duckworth was the first American female double amputee from the Iraq War and received the Purple Heart for her service
Tammy Duckworth at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in December 2004 when she was awarded her Purple Heart
She criticized President Trump for not speaking out about allegations that Russia was paying bounties to the Taliban to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.
'I can’t stop thinking about the Gold Star parents I spoke with recently who were desperate to know whether their child was killed because Vladimir Putin placed a bounty on their life. It tore me up that, even after I asked for an investigation, I still couldn’t reassure them that Donald Trump cared enough to try to get them an answer—that 55 days after Putin’s reported bounty scheme became public, Trump still hasn’t publicly condemned Russia—or explained how he’s protecting our servicemembers,' she said.
She said Trump 'doesn't deserve' the commander-in-chief title.
'As president, Joe Biden would never let tyrants manipulate him like a puppet on a string. Joe Biden would never threaten to use our military against peaceful Americans. Because unlike Trump, Joe Biden has common sense and common decency,' she said.
Duckworth was a member of Illinois National Guard when she was deployed to Iraq in 2004.
On November 12, 2004, she lost her right leg near the hip and her left leg below the knee from injuries sustained when the Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents.
She was the first American female double amputee from the Iraq War and received the Purple Heart for her service.
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