Lessons from the Battlefield: My Father’s Urgent Message on Leadership and Donald Trump

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My Dad, Paul Friedman (top row, far right), was a heroic battlefield medic deep in a Pacific jungle in World War Two. He braved enemy fire, dangerous wildlife, infectious diseases, and cannibalism to run a battlefield hospital trying to save the lives of downed U.S. and Allied flyboys. I have imagined the following dialogue between Dad (1918-1990) and me if he was still alive.

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Marc: Dad, there’s another election around the corner, and people are as divided as I’ve ever seen. Many think Donald Trump is the answer, but I’m not so sure. What do you think?

Paul: Marc, I didn’t live to see this day, but I’ve seen enough to know that electing a leader without integrity, empathy, and a respect for the rule of law is a grave risk to any democracy. I treated men who laid down their lives for America’s values, for the idea that a strong leader respects those he serves and protects what’s best in a country. Trump doesn’t embody those values—he endangers them.

Marc: Some would argue he’s just trying to break down barriers and push back against a corrupt system.

Paul: A good leader reforms corruption with integrity, not by pitting people against each other. In that jungle, I treated young men from every walk of life who had each other’s backs. That sense of unity is what America needs to survive. Trump divides, Marc. He fuels hate, he trivializes our institutions, and he mocks anyone who questions him. A leader like that isn’t just reckless—he’s dangerous to the very foundation of our democracy.

Marc: But he promises strength, that he’ll make America great again. Many people believe he’ll put America first.

Paul: Strength is meaningless without principles guiding it. Real strength builds alliances, holds to truths, and protects the vulnerable. Trump’s strength is self-serving. He’s too willing to ignore the law, to dismiss accountability. That’s not leadership; that’s tyranny creeping in. Electing someone who scorns our Constitution and divides us from within is one of the most dangerous choices Americans could make.

Marc: So you see his approach as a direct threat?

Paul: I do. I learned firsthand that we can’t afford leaders who act on impulse, who ignore expert advice, and who fuel distrust in the very systems that protect us. Trump not only breaks those principles; he actively attacks them. In times of crisis, we need unity and respect for democratic institutions. That’s why I voted twice for Eisenhower. Without that, we’re left defenseless, no better than those broken governments we saw in wartime.

Marc: You always said that integrity matters most. And I remember you saying a true leader should never put his own power above the people.

Paul: Exactly. Trump’s disregard for the law, his willingness to pit American against American, and his constant undermining of institutions show he’d risk the stability of the whole country for his own gain. That kind of leadership is more than reckless—it’s a threat to America’s safety and future.

Marc: Thanks, Dad. I can see why you feel so strongly. A leader who doesn’t respect democracy could undo everything you and so many others fought, and many died for.

Paul: It’s true, Marc. When the stakes are this high, we can’t afford to gamble with a man who plays loose with our country’s principles. Leadership with integrity, not selfish ambition, is what will keep America safe and strong.

Paul: I love you, Son, and I love America as well, and I was deeply proud to fight for Freedom and Democracy.

Marc: I love you too, Dad, and miss you.

Paul: I miss you too, Marc.