I don’t agree with or advocate anyone breaking the law or bending the rules, and I believe Ekaterine Bautista made a bad decision taking on a false identity to enter the military ("The illegal patriot," article, May 2). She took a short cut (the easy wrong) instead of trying to do it the correct way (the hard right), but, according to the article, she did it for the right reasons and she served honorably and proudly for six years.

Every time a governor or the president leaves office you hear of the pardons they give to people who have done just as bad [as Bautista] or worse. President Barack Obama should pardon her, which would then allow her to obtain her citizenship using the proper procedures and possible return to military service. She served the United States, and now it’s time to pay her back for her sacrifices.

First Sgt. Douglas C. LynchContingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq

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