In 2004, Army Captain Humayun Khan was in the middle of a tour of duty in Iraq. While his unit was guarding the gates of their base, Captain Khan noticed a suspicious vehicle approaching their checkpoint. He immediately took control of the situation and ordered his fellow servicemembers to stay back. 

Captain Khan, however, moved forward. Within seconds, the suspicious vehicle exploded, killing Captain Khan. But because of his bravery, Captain Khan saved the lives of his fellow servicemembers.

For his sacrifice and valor, Captain Khan, a proud and patriotic Muslim American, was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals.

As an Iraq War veteran, I served alongside so many other patriotic servicemembers who, like Captain Khan, possessed an overwhelming sense of duty to serve our country. When we put our uniforms on, we were not defined by our religion or ethnicity — we were all Americans, wanting to serve our country and defend the values we all hold dear.

America will never forget the ultimate sacrifice that Captain Khan made to save others. As a country, honoring his bravery and service also means supporting Captain Khan’s family, including his parents, Khizr and Ghazala.

That’s why it is all the more appalling that Donald Trump, rather than honoring a Gold Star family’s sacrifice, has resorted to repeatedly attacking the Khan family.

After the Khan family shared the story of their son’s life at the Democratic National Convention, Trump resorted to his all-too-common personal attacks on the family, questioning their faith and saying about Ms. Kahn, “if you look at his wife, she was just standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say.”

Donald Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric against Muslim Americans like the Khan family shows his true colors. His inappropriate actions have again proved he is temperamentally unfit to serve as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief.

That’s why we’ve seen veterans groups from across the country condemning Trump and standing by the Khan family. 

The Veterans of Foreign Wars issued a statement stating that they, “will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star family member for exercising his or her right of speech or expression.” We also heard from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, who joined with other veterans and servicemember organizations in writing a letter calling on Trump and other candidates to show respect for Gold Star families.

Even members of Trump’s own Republican party have sought to distance themselves from their nominee. Senator John McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee and was himself a prisoner of war, has said he, “cannot emphasize enough how deeply he disagrees with Mr. Trump’s statement.”

Trump’s proposed Muslim ban could have prevented the Khan family from immigrating to our nation and their son from serving in our military in the first place. And with Trump’s most recent attack on the Khan family, it is shameful that he would seek to further divide our country, rather than unite us behind the very values of our country for which Captain Khan gave his life.

Here in Southeast Michigan, I am constantly reminded of the overwhelming patriotism of my Muslim American brothers and sisters. Muslim Americans are part of the unique melting pot that enriches our diversity and makes our communities great places to grow up and raise a family. And as we saw from Captain Khan and his family, Muslim Americans, like so many others, volunteer for military service to defend the country we all love.

By attacking a Gold Star family and disregarding the sacrifices of servicemembers and their families, Trump is demonstrating exactly why he lacks the temperament and judgment necessary to serve as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief. 

Voters in Michigan have a clear choice this election in Hillary Clinton, who has outlined a clear plan to support our veterans – and their families – who have sacrifice so much to protect us.

In his hateful comments, Trump has dishonored the memory of an American fallen hero. For that, he owes the Khan family an apology. 

-State Sen. David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights), a Marine veteran, is Michigan’s youngest senator.