LETTER: Don 'K' proved himself in the Marines

Joining the armed forces of this great country in your teens can be both humbling and exciting at the same time. You’re full of pride and anxiety, trying to do your best in a totally new environment. But soon you learn discipline, teamwork and quite simply how to get things done.

I met Don “K” Kaltschmidt at Camp Pendleton, California, then transitioned to Okinawa and from there we deployed together on a Marine Corps Amphibious Strike Group. Meeting Don made that enlistment choice a great one.

Don has a reserved leadership that the Marine Corps looks for in young men and women. Through hard work, devotion and love of country, he always got the job done. But with Don you got a little more, his sense of humor and good nature made the hard days a lot easier.

My only selfish wish is to have Don taking care of the people in my troubled Chicago, as well as you in that great state of Montana! I know he will get the job done in Senate District 3.

—Jim Hanrahan, Chicago