My dad was a pilot in World War II, flying as a dive bomber from naval carriers, fighting from the Coral Sea all the way to the end of the war off the coast of Japan. My father was a proud and brave man who, like Pappy Boyington, was a patriot to his country and fought for freedom – not just ours, but for all the countries overrun by the Japanese.

My father spoke of the camaraderie of his fellow pilots and shipmates and how they drew strength and inspiration from one another to survive this war that they never wanted to have to fight. Though I read the articles and commendations for my father, he never spoke of killing the hundreds of Japanese that he did. By no means did he praise the enemy, but my father did respect that the sailors and soldiers he killed were doing the biddings of a much larger empire, and were simple men like him, thrust into war to serve and possibly die for their country.

Col. Boyington deserves respect for what he did "for" our country, not what he did "against" the enemy he had to fight. For the freedoms now enjoyed by all the students at the University of Washington, including students who are Japanese or are of Japanese descent, we should all be thankful to those who were a hair's breadth away from death every moment they faced the enemy in battle. To me, men like my father and Pappy Boyington capture the true human spirit that all Americans should embody – standing against what is wrong to make it right at any cost. For many Americans, that cost was their life given proudly far from home so that our world could be at peace.

These students at the University of Washington haven't earned the right to speak on behalf of Col. Boyington as it appears they have not fully "studied" the subject of their commemoration debate. Boyington, like so many others in the complete history of our country are no more than common men who displayed uncommon valor in the face of adversity. I ask each of those student body representatives: "What have any of you done for your country and countrymen that comes anywhere close to the uncommon valor displayed by Col. Boyington or those who fought in the same war as he did?"

Respectfully,

Kirk G. Even
Son of U.S. Navy Capt. Glen M. Even, deceased