This is in response to the original article about Spc. James Kuritz (March 16) “I don’t want to go back,” and his father’s response, printed March 20.

I find it both distressing and sad that Paul Kuritz had to respond on the editorial page in an attempt to set the record straight about his son after such a misleading story was printed.

That is an outrageously offensive illustration of how a biased and agenda-driven reporter can distort, exploit and misrepresent soldiers and the facts. It was also inappropriate to strategically place the original article adjacent to a story about a grieving war widow in order to opportunistically advance an anti-war message.

My intent in writing is neither to defend nor criticize the war in Iraq, but I would appreciate some objective reporting on the subject, especially when dealing with courageous veterans who have risked their lives for their country.

It is no wonder to me that so many of the servicemen who I have talked with have expressed similar frustrations when they read the papers or watch television.

They deserve better.

Kirk Lundstrom, Lewiston