I am a submarine veteran of World War II and a native of New London, living there for the first 80 years of my life.

The first submarine I served on was an old boat built around 1920, the USS R-12 — no name, just R-12. During the war I transferred to a fleet submarine. After I transferred, the R-12 was lost, on June 12, 1943. Some of my old shipmates died that day. It was the price we paid; we were giving our best for America. During the war, we lost 52 submarines and 3,500 crew members. They were not conservatives or liberals, just Americans. 

The selfless service of my shipmates and veterans from all other branches of service is how we won World War II. Forty years after World War II, President Ronald Reagan and House Speaker Tip O’Neill managed to work together for what was best for America. 

Today we are at war with a vicious enemy, and we seem to have forgotten how to fight. Our politicians are more interested in fighting each other instead. Their squabbling makes this the worst presidential campaign since I first voted for a president in 1948.

Lawrence Crowley

Oldsmar, Florida