Gold Star Family Responds To Reports Trump Disparaged Troops
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Reports that the President of the United States made disparaging remarks about U.S. troops, including those killed in combat, has reopened old wounds for family members of those who did give their lives on the battlefield. Joining us now, former "New York Times" journalist Dana Canedy. Her 2008, "A Journal for Jordan," tells the story of her late fiance, First Sergeant Charles King, and his service in the Army. This is told with the help of notes that he kept -- notes he wrote to his infant son before he was killed in Iraq. Dana, it's good to have you with us. It's such a powerful -- such a powerful piece that you wrote and you draw us in right away when you bring us into the moment where your 14- year-old son Jordan first heard the comments that the president had reportedly called fallen soldiers losers and suckers, and it was before you could protect him from it. Just take us back to that moment if you will.</s>DANA CANEDY, AUTHOR, "A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN", FORMER JOURNALIST, THE NEW YORK TIMES (via Cisco Webex): Oh, I'm getting chills even thinking about it. I, obviously, heard the reports first and was really struggling with the fact that anybody could say that. And he's denied it. I don't whether he said it or not but even the possibility of that is just horrible. I just started having images of my mind -- in my mind of the funeral and of the first time I was told that he died. And then, I said I'm going to keep this away from Jordan. A news report was on and he came into my room. I was trying very quickly to turn off the television. He heard it and turned to me with his big, beautiful eyes and said mom, is he talking about my dad? And I thought I have to say something.</s>HILL: What did you say?</s>CANEDY: You know, I knew that I had to say something -- I had to speak up publicly because --</s>HILL: Yes.</s>CANEDY: -- (audio gap) we know your dad's heroism. Ah, just forget about it, but neither one of us could. And I have always told Jordan -- and also, I speak with a lot of students in my line of work across the country and I've spoken with hundreds of grieving military families. And I've always had -- one of the messages I like to leave with them is if you're hurting or angry or upset, do something positive with that -- channel it. And so, I had to find a way to do that. And writing, for me, has always been an outlet so I first wrote about it for "The New York Times," my old employer. I just decided to let Jordan do one interview so he could defend his dad and speak up for his dad. He did and it's been empowering. I won't let anyone diminish the service that Charles or any other service member gave -- provided for this country. And certainly, those like him who made the ultimate sacrifice.</s>HILL: I know you've had plenty of reaction come your way --</s>CANEDY: Yes.</s>HILL: -- from the piece, but I'm curious, what did your son say when he read it?</s>CANEDY: He hasn't read it.</s>HILL: Oh, he hasn't?</s>CANEDY: No. You know, there's very, very personal things in there that I wanted to share with people. But mostly, I want him to be a kid, you know. He's surfing this summer and hanging out with his cousins. And I wanted to talk about it with him and give him a chance to express himself, which he did. And then, hopefully, allow him to move on and focus back on the last days of summer and the beginning of his school year.</s>HILL: As you note in the piece and as you just said, the administration and the president have denied these remarks were made. I was really struck by, though, the advice that you offered and I just want to read some of that. You said, "Go on television immediately from the Oval Office and speak directly to these Gold Star children. If you want, deny that you said those awful things but tell them you are sorry anyway. Say that no child should ever think that the commander in chief would utter such hurtful lies. Tell them their mom or dad or anyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice is more of a hero than you will ever be. Humble yourself. If Mr. Trump had it in his heart to extend his empathy to all the Gold Star adults who are suffering as well, that would be great. But he must speak to our children." That struck me so much and I don't think it's just as a parent. But reading that moment, you just thought yes, what a message that would send.</s>CANEDY: I'm still hopeful that he will do it -- I really am. He's a parent, himself. And I have to say -- you know, people keep asking me how I feel about the upcoming election and who I'm going to vote for. It's completely irrelevant.</s>HILL: Yes.</s>CANEDY: Same thing if a Democrat was in the White House. My political views are not at issue here. Who cares what I think about that? What I'm saying is as the mother of a Gold Star child -- and I'm sure there are many -- I don't speak for any other military family but my own, though I have heard from a lot over this weekend. But I would bet there are lots of confused children who would love to hear their commander in chief -- our commander in chief say your daddy was a hero.</s>HILL: Yes.</s>CANEDY: There's no (audio gap). Don't let anybody tell you otherwise. And if you somebody led you to believe that I think otherwise, I'm here to tell you that's not true. It would help to heal these kids. Forget about the adults if you want to. There are plenty of hurting mothers and wives, brothers and sisters of those who have either been wounded or killed in combat, but it's the children -- it's the children that need to hear directly from the president that there's no doubt in my mind -- don't let anybody tell you otherwise that your parent was a warrior, was a hero, was the best America has.</s>HILL: Without question, and their service and their sacrifice. And yours, as well, you know. You lost your fiance, your son lost his father and none of that should be politicized. And what an incredible gift that First Sergeant Charles Monroe King left for his son, "A Journal for Jordan." I know you turned it into a book. There's a movie forthcoming as well. And thanks for sharing some of that gift with us. Dana, thanks for being with us this morning.</s>CANEDY: Thank you for having me.</s>HILL: How will the coronavirus pandemic impact the upcoming flu season? We've been talking so much about the two converging. Well, two doctors will tell us, next.