I am writing this column on Veterans Day, as the nation and our community honor those who served and sacrificed. Barring anything unforeseen, the next president of the United States will not have served in Vietnam. That also makes it unlikely that the nation will ever have a president who is a Vietnam veteran. In fact, of the current frontrunners for the 2020 presidential election, only Pete Buttigieg is a veteran.

Only three major party candidates — Al Gore, John Kerry and John McCain — served in Vietnam.

Perversely, some of the political opponents of Gore, Kerry and McCain criticized and disparaged their service to the nation. We have seen that practice continue as chickenhawks question the patriotism and service of decorated veterans for political gain.

There were times in our nation’s history when it was difficult to win the Oval Office without serving in the armed forces. After the Civil War, every president from Ulysses Grant to William McKinley except two fought in the Civil War. After World War II, every president from Eisenhower to George H.W. Bush was a veteran.

Eisenhower famously led the Allied landings on D-Day, while Bush won the Distinguished Flying Cross. John F. Kennedy earned a Purple Heart while commanding PT-109.

Still, it is unfortunate that we have never had a president who served in Vietnam. I think such a president might have been a powerful advocate for veterans and would have understood what they had been through.

Vietnam veterans understand sacrifice and patriotism. To them, patriotism is not just a photo-op or a flag decal. Their virtues often include honor and compassion.

Military service is not a prerequisite for a great chief executive. During the two deadliest wars in American history, presidents led the nation to victory despite their lack of military experience.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was president during most of World War II, had been assistant secretary of the U.S. navy, which is a civilian post. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln led the Union to victory despite his limited military service in the Illinois militia. Lincoln served during the Black Hawk War but saw no action. Of his time in the militia, he often quipped, “I had a good many bloody struggles with the mosquitoes.” Lincoln did, however, see the aftermath of battles.

Thus, while not on the same scale as the Civil War, he understood carnage and what war does to human beings.

A Vietnam veteran serving as president would have known what it is like to live abroad and how important it is to understand other cultures and geopolitics. Their experiences in the military introduced them to Americans of different backgrounds, races and classes.

Vietnam veterans know that — despite the best of intentions and thoughtful strategy — nothing goes according to plan during war. It is one of the few truisms in history: War brings unforeseen consequences.

I can’t help but believe that with a Vietnam vet in the White House, the United States might have avoided some of the foreign misadventures of the past 50 years. Those debacles cost lives.

Through their experience in an unpopular war, Vietnam veterans learned some painful lessons first-hand. Without one of them as president, we have had to relearn some of those lessons.

Aaron Miller is a community columnist. He has a doctorate in history and is an associate professor of history at Ivy Tech Community College. Send comments to [email protected].