DEAR EDITOR:

I am embarrassed to admit that I did not understand my grandfather’s military service record as well as I believed when I wrote my recent letter to the editor. Now, I must correct the record. It turns out he was not wounded and therefore did not receive a Purple Heart. My mom corrected me on this mistake.

I have memories of a service medal in a drawer in my grandparents’ house, and thought I recalled him saying he was wounded in the leg. But my memories served me ill, and I was wrong to ascribe to Grandpa an honor that so many of his brothers in arms sadly did earn. Also, it was his other brother, Johnny — not “Tooty” — who suffered from PTSD because of the war.

These errors, however, do not change the fact that he and his brothers served our nation honorably in the military during World War II, and made great sacrifices — something our 45th so-called president never did.

I maintain that Gramps is far more deserving of a park than the person for whom Mr. Loychik would have Mosquito Lake renamed.

DAN POMPILI

Youngstow