We’re Pa. veterans: U.S. Rep. Scott Perry puts loyalty to Trump ahead of service members, vets

By Joel Hicks, Samantha Stout, and Heath Copeland

As former members of the armed forces, we have been alternately outraged and disheartened by U.S. Rep. Sott Perry’s, R-10th District, conduct over the past few months as it relates to standing up for our active duty service members and veterans.

In July, we expressed our disbelief that in light of reports that a Russian bounty program, that potentially may have taken the life of a young man from our own community, was met with inaction from the Trump administration.

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Instead of demanding answers from the administration on its failure to protect our troops from such a grave threat, Congressman Perry was more concerned about identifying the whistleblower.

We chalked it up to the congressman losing touch after his seven years in Washington:

Either Perry is too afraid to ruffle feathers in Washington, or he’s been in D.C. for so long he can no longer identify real problems from the fodder used for political theater in the capitol.

Either way, Scott Perry has deeply let down active military, former service members, and most importantly, the families of our fallen heroes, with his behavior.

As former members of the armed forces, we put our lives on the line with the understanding that our elected leaders would take ensuring the safety of military personnel, as a sacred duty. Congressman Perry should be focused on the breach of that trust, instead he is more caught up in the games of Washington. The Congressman has lost touch with the values and concerns of real Americans. Our country, our district, and our brave servicemen and women deserve far better.

Now, as new comments attributed to President Donald Trump surface calling fallen and injured soldiers “suckers” and “losers,” Perry has made his priorities known when he, without hesitation, called the reporting “disgraceful.”.

Time and time again, Perry has made defending Trump his priority over our men and women in uniform. He is more afraid of the political ramifications of crossing Trump, than a foreign bounty on our troops.

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As a retired general and combat veteran himself, it’s shocking that the congressman has forgotten his original oath and his soldier’s creed. He repeatedly lets down his former troops, their families, and constituents alike.

Perry has made clear that when faced with the choice between duty and political self-interest, he will pick himself every time.

Perry’s selfishness and cowardice have been made crystal clear by the events of the past several months. Our community, our troops, and our country deserve far better than the self-serving politician that currently represents us in Washington. It is time Scott Perry finds a new job.”

Joel Hicks, a retired U.S. Navy commander, is a member of the borough council in Carlisle, Cumberland County. Samantha Stout is a retired staff sergeant in the Army National Guard. Heath Copeland is a retired specialist in the U.S. Army.