The early life and military career of John McCain spans the first forty-five years (1936–1981) of the life of John Sidney McCain III, a United States Senator from Arizona and the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. John Sidney McCain III retired from the United States Navy in April 1981 John McCain, the United States Senator from Arizona, launched his first candidacy for the presidency of the United States in the 2000 John Sidney McCain III ran for President of the United States in the 2000 presidential campaign, but failed to gain the Republican Party nomination John McCain, the senior United States Senator from Arizona, launched his second candidacy for the presidency of the United States John McCain 's personal character has dominated the image and perception of him US Senator John McCain ( R - AZ) a candidate and the nominee of the Republican Party in the 2008 U The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled for Tuesday November 4 2008 will be the 56th consecutive

Both McCain's father and grandfather were admirals in the United States Navy. John Sidney McCain Jr ( January 17, 1911 – March 22, 1981) was a Four star admiral in the United States Navy who served McCainFatherandGrandfatherjpg|thumb|right| John S"Slew" McCain Sr and John S Please see " Admiral " for other nations which use this rank In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone and attended many schools growing up as his family moved among different naval facilities. The Panama Canal Zone (Zona del Canal de Panamá was a 553 square mile (1432 km² territory inside of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958. The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States He married the former Carol Shepp in 1965, adopting two children from her previous marriage and having another child with her. Carol Shepp McCain (born 1937 or 1938 She first knew John McCain while he was attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis from 1954 to 1958

As a naval aviator, McCain flew attack aircraft from carriers. A United States Naval Aviator is a pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. Ground-attack aircraft are military aircraft designed to attack targets on the ground and are often deployed as Close air support for and in proximity to their own ground forces An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with During the Vietnam War in 1967, he narrowly escaped death in the Forrestal fire. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia On 29 July 1967 a devastating fire and series of chain-reaction explosions caused great loss of life on the Aircraft carrier after an unusual electrical anomaly discharged a Zuni On his twenty-third bombing mission over North Vietnam later in 1967, he was shot down and badly injured. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN or less commonly Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa was a Country on the northern half of Vietnam He subsequently endured five and a half years as a prisoner of war, including periods of torture. Torture, according to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, is "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental is intentionally In 1968, he refused a North Vietnamese offer of early release, because it would be out of sequence with other prisoners there longer. He was finally released in 1973 after the Paris Peace Accords. The Paris Peace Accords (or Paris Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam) were signed on January 27, 1973 by the governments of the

Upon his return, McCain studied at the National War College, commanded a large training squadron in the U. The National War College (NWC of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. S. , and then was the Navy liaison to the U. S. Senate. He divorced his wife Carol in 1980, and married the former Cindy Hensley shortly after. He retired from the Navy in 1981 as a decorated captain. See " Captain " for other versions of this rank In the uniformed services of the United States, captain is a federal

Early years and education

Family heritage

John McCain’s grandfather "Slew" and father "Jack" on board a U. McCainFatherandGrandfatherjpg|thumb|right| John S"Slew" McCain Sr and John S John Sidney McCain Jr ( January 17, 1911 – March 22, 1981) was a Four star admiral in the United States Navy who served S. Navy ship in Tokyo Bay, c. is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was. September 2, 1945. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar

McCain was born on August 29, 1936,^[1] at a navy hospital^[2] at Coco Solo Naval Air Station^[3] in Panama Canal Zone, Panama, to Navy officer John S. "Jack" McCain, Jr. (1911–1981) and Roberta (Wright) McCain (b. Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Coco Solo was a United States Navy Submarine base established in 1918 on the Atlantic Ocean (northwest side of the Panama Canal Zone, near The Panama Canal Zone (Zona del Canal de Panamá was a 553 square mile (1432 km² territory inside of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. John Sidney McCain Jr ( January 17, 1911 – March 22, 1981) was a Four star admiral in the United States Navy who served Roberta Wright McCain (born February 7, 1912) is the widow of Admiral John S 1912). McCain has Scots-Irish^[4] and English^[5] ancestry. Scotch-Irish (the historically common term in North America) or Scots-Irish refers to inhabitants of the United States and by some of Canada England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

The McCain family's ancestral home is in Carroll County, Mississippi. Carroll County is a County located in the Mississippi Delta region of the U Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States ^[6][7] The family tree has a long heritage of American military service, with ancestors fighting as soldiers in the Indian Wars,^[3] American Revolutionary War,^[8] War of 1812,^[9] for the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War,^[6] and in World War I. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All ^[3]

McCain's father and grandfather eventually became United States Navy admirals, and were the first father-son pair to both achieve four-star admiral rank. Please see " Admiral " for other nations which use this rank In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the This is a complete list of four-star admirals in the United States Navy. ^[10] His grandfather, Admiral John S. "Slew" McCain, Sr., was a pioneer of aircraft carrier operations^[3] who aggressively led the Fast Carrier Task Force in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. McCainFatherandGrandfatherjpg|thumb|right| John S"Slew" McCain Sr and John S The Fast Carrier Task Force, known at different times as Task Force 38 and Task Force 58, was the main striking force of the United States Navy in The Pacific Ocean theater was one of four major naval theatres of war of the Second World War that pitted forces of the Japan against those of the United His operations off the Philippines and Okinawa, and air strikes against Formosa and the Japanese home islands, caused tremendous destruction of Japanese naval and air forces in the closing period of the war. The Philippines campaign of 1944–45 was the Allied campaign to defeat Japanese forces occupying The Philippines, during World War II. The Battle of Okinawa, also known as Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. The, which forms the Country of Japan, extends roughly from northeast to southwest along the northeastern coast of the Eurasia mainland washing upon the northwestern ^[11] His death four days after the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay^[10] was front page news. The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was the written agreement that established the Armistice ending the Pacific War and with it World War II. ^[12] His father was a submarine commander in several theaters of operation in World War II and was decorated with both the Silver Star and Bronze Star. A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration which may be awarded for bravery acts of merit or meritorious service ^[11]

Early life

For his first ten years, "Johnny" McCain (the family nickname he was given)^[2] was frequently uprooted as his family (including older sister Sandy and younger brother Joe)^[3] followed his father to New London, Connecticut, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and other stations in the Pacific Ocean. Joseph Pinckney McCain II He has voiced his support for Israel in its struggle against terrorism New London is a seaport city and a Port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States Pearl Harbor is a Harbor on the Island of O{{okina}}ahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions ^[13] McCain attended whatever naval base school was available,^[13] often to the detriment of his education, as schools were sometimes substandard and curricula often erratic. ^[13] After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, his father was absent for long stretches. The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation, as it was called by the Imperial General Headquarters) was a surprise Military strike conducted by ^[3] His formal education was supplemented by the efforts of his mother, who took advantage of the family's many long-distance travels to expose him to historical and cultural sites. ^[14] He would later write, "She taught me to find so much pleasure in life that misfortune could not rob me of the joy of living. "^[14] His mother also made sure that he followed current events; she was a Republican, although his parents avoided outward partisan appearances due to his fathers' military career. ^[15]

After World War II ended, his father stayed in the Navy, sometimes working political liaison posts. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including ^[3] The family settled in Northern Virginia, and McCain attended the educationally stronger St. Stephen's School in Alexandria, Virginia from 1946 to 1949. Northern Virginia (colloquially referred to as "NOVA" or "NoVA" consists of several St Stephen's & St Agnes School is an independent Episcopal coed Private school in Alexandria Virginia. Alexandria is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ^[16] To his family he had long been quiet, dependable, and courteous,^[3] while at St. Stephen's he began to develop an unruly, defiant streak. ^[17] Another two years were then spent following his father to naval stations;^[18] altogether he attended about twenty schools during his youth. ^[19] He was frequently disciplined in school for fighting. ^[20] He would later write, "The repeated farewells to friends rank among the saddest regrets of a childhood constantly disrupted by the demands of my father's career. . . . At each new school I arrived eager to make, by means of my insolent attitude, new friends to compensate for the loss of others. At each new school I grew more determined to assert my crude individualism. At each new school I became a more unrepentant pain in the neck. "^[21]

In 1951, McCain enrolled at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, an academically superior, all-male private boarding school with a rigorous honor code and spartan living environment. Episcopal High School, founded in 1839 is a private Boarding school located in Alexandria Virginia. A boarding school is a School where some or all pupils not only study but also live during term time with their fellow students and possibly teachers "Code of honor" redirects here for the first season episode of Star Trek The Next Generation see Code of Honor. ^[22] Most of the children there were sons of wealthy Southerners, from whom McCain got a glimpse of life and career aspirations outside the Navy culture. The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive ^[23] Nicknamed "Punk" and "McNasty" due to his combative, fiery disposition, McCain enjoyed and cultivated that tough guy image; he also made a few friends. ^{[17][24][25][3]} McCain earned two varsity letters in wrestling,^[25] excelling in the lighter weight classes. A varsity letter (or monogram) is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities Scholastic wrestling is the commonly-used name of the style of Amateur wrestling practiced at the High school and middle (junior high school level in In many styles of Wrestling, opponents are matched based on Weight ( Mass) ^[10] He also played on the junior varsity football team and the tennis team, and participated in the student newspaper, yearbook, and drama club. In sports usually at the high school and College levels in the United States and Canada, members of a team who are not the main players in a competition American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with Tennis is a sport played between two players ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles) A student newspaper is a Newspaper run by Students of a University, High school, Middle school, or other school A yearbook, also known as an annual is a book to record highlight and commemorate the past year of a School or a book published annually ^[26] English teacher William Bee Ravenel III, who was also his football coach, would become a great influence towards his sense of learning, honor, and self-image. William Bee Ravenel III (1915&ndash1968 was an educator and a soldier ^[27] With what he later termed an "undistinguished, but acceptable" academic record,^[28] McCain graduated from high school in 1954. ^[17]

Naval Academy

John McCain at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, mid-1950s. The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States Annapolis is the capital of the US state of Maryland, as well as the County seat of Anne Arundel County.

Having done well on its entrance exams,^[29] McCain entered the United States Naval Academy in June 1954, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States ^[30] He had neither been ordered to go there by his parents nor discussed alternatives; as he would later write, "I remember simply recognizing my eventual enrollment at the Academy as an immutable fact of life, and accepting it without comment. "^[31]

Ambivalent about his presence there,^[30] McCain chose not to conform to the Academy's rules and some of its traditions. ^[32] Each year he was given over a hundred demerits, for offenses such as shoes not being shined, formation faults, room in disorder, and talking out of place. ^[30] This earned him membership in the "Century Club". ^[10] He hated "plebe year", the trial by ordeal and hazing of entering midshipmen that would eventually weed out one quarter of the class. Hazing is an often Ritualistic test and a task which may constitute Harassment, Abuse or Humiliation with requirements to perform random often ^[33] He did not take well to those of higher rank arbitrarily wielding power over him – "It was bullshit, and I resented the hell out of it"^[30] – and would sometimes intervene when he saw it being done to others. ^[10] At 5 foot 7 inches^[34] and 127 pounds^[35] (1. 70 m and 58 kg), he competed as a lightweight boxer for three years, where he lacked skills but was fearless and "didn't have a reverse gear". LightWeight is a developer of Video games with Samurai themes such as the Bushido Blade series and the Kengo Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, ^[35] In his final year, he managed the battalion boxing team to a brigade championship. ^[36]

Possessed of a strong intelligence,^[37] he did well in a few subjects that interested him, such as English literature, history, and government. ^[10][30] There was a fixed Bachelor of Science curriculum taken by all midshipmen;^[38][39] McCain's classmates were impressed by his cramming abilities on mathematics, science, and engineering courses^[40] and thought his low grades were by inclination and not ability. A Bachelor of Science ( BS, BSc or BSc in the UK; less commonly S In academics cramming (also known as mugging) is the practice of working intensively to absorb large volumes of informational material in short amounts of time ^[10] His class rank was further lowered by his poor grades for conduct and leadership, which reflected his sloppy appearance, rebellious attitude, and poor relations with his company officer. In US military usage a company-grade officer is a Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, or Captain. ^[40][41] Despite his low standing, he was popular and a leader among his fellow midshipmen, in what biographer Robert Timberg called a "manic, intuitive, highly idiosyncratic way". ^[30] Good at attracting women,^[10] he was famed for organizing off-Yard activities; one classmate said that "being on liberty with John McCain was like being in a train wreck. "^[30] A June 1957 training cruise aboard the destroyer USS Hunt^[42] found McCain showing good skills at the conn,^[43] and the destination stop in Rio de Janeiro led to a dream-like romance with a famous Brazilian fashion model that persisted through a Christmastime reunion. World War II After shakedown off Bermuda and final alterations in New York Navy Yard, Hunt cleared Norfolk Va Officer of the Deck (OOD is a position in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard that confers certain authority and responsibility Rio de Janeiro ("River of January" ˈhiw dʒi ʒʌˈnejɾu in Brazilian Portuguese, /ˈriːoʊ di ʒəˈnɛroʊ/ in English is the second largest city of Brazil |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld A model is a person who is posed or displayed for the purpose of Art, Fashion, or other products and Advertising. ^[44]

McCain graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1958;^[45] he was fifth from the bottom in class rank, 894th out of 899. ^[30] Despite his difficulties, McCain later wrote that he never defamed the more compelling traditions of the Academy – courage, resilience, honor, and sacrifice for one's country^[46] – and he never wavered in his desire to show his father and family that he was of the same mettle as his naval forebears. ^[46] Indeed, Slew and Jack McCain had not had sterling records at the Academy themselves, finishing in the bottom third and bottom twentieth respectively. ^[47] McCain realized later that the Academy had taught him that in order "to sustain my self-respect for a lifetime it would be necessary for me to have the honor of serving something greater than my self-interest",^[46] a lesson that he would need to carry him through a "desperate and uncertain" time a decade later. ^[46]

Military career

Naval training, early assignments, first marriage, and children

McCain was commissioned an ensign. Ensign (ˈɛnsən is a junior rank of commissioned officer in the militaries of some countries normally in the infantry or navy ^[48] He spent two years as a naval aviator in training, first at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida through September 1959, and then at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas, during which time he was promoted to lieutenant, junior grade. A United States Naval Aviator is a pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola, "The Cradle of Naval Aviation" is a United States Navy base located in Warrington, Florida Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, also known as Truax Field, is a naval base located six miles (10 km) southeast of the Central business district Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric ^[49][48] He earned a reputation as a party man, as he drove a Corvette, dated an exotic dancer named "Marie the Flame of Florida", spent all his free time on the beach or in a BOQ room turned bar and friendly gambling den, and, as he would later say, "generally misused my good health and youth". The Chevrolet Corvette is a Sports car that has been manufactured by General Motors since 1953 For the racehorse see Exotic Dancer (horse The terms exotic dancer and exotic dance can have different meanings in different Boq is a minor character in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum. ^[50][19] He began as a sub-par flier; he had limited patience for studying aviation manuals, and spent study time reading history books instead. ^[50] During a practice run in Texas, his engine quit while landing, and his aircraft crashed into Corpus Christi Bay and sank to the bottom. The Corpus Christi Bay is located in the southern Texas Coastal Bend, in a Semi-arid region ^[49] Although momentarily knocked unconscious by the impact, he squeezed out of the cockpit and swam to the surface, escaping without major injuries. ^[49] He graduated from flight school at Corpus Christi^[49] in May 1960,^[48] and became a pilot of attack aircraft. Ground-attack aircraft are military aircraft designed to attack targets on the ground and are often deployed as Close air support for and in proximity to their own ground forces He joined squadron VA-42 at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia for five months of training on the A-1 Skyraider aircraft. Naval Air Station Oceana or NAS Oceana is a military airport located in Virginia Beach Virginia, and is a United States Navy Master Jet Base The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout ^[48]

McCain (front right) with his squadron and T-2 Buckeye trainer, in 1965. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

Starting in November 1960, McCain flew A-1 Skyraiders with the VA-65 "World Famous Fighting Tigers" squadron^[51][48] on the aircraft carriers USS Intrepid and USS Enterprise. Attack Squadron 65 (VA-65, nicknamed The World Famous Fighting Tigers was an attack squadron of the United States Navy established in 1945 and disbanded in 1993 An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with Launch and commissioning The USS Intrepid was launched on April 26, 1943 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co Design Enterprise was intended to be the first of a class of six but construction costs ballooned and the remaining vessels were never laid down resulting in her ^[52] The carriers were based at Naval Station Norfolk^[51] and cruised in the Caribbean Sea and in several deployments to the Mediterranean Sea. Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces operating in the Atlantic Ocean, For the region see Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea (kəˈrɪbiən or /ˌkærɨˈbiːən/ is a tropical Sea in the Western Hemisphere ^[50] McCain was made a lieutenant in June 1962,^[48] and was on alert duty on Enterprise when it helped enforce the naval quarantine of Cuba during the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation between the United States, the Soviet Union, and Cuba during the Cold War. ^[53] His aviation skills improved, but he had another close call when he and his plane emerged intact from a collision with power lines after flying too low over Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. ^[50] In November 1963, he was rotated back to shore duty, serving nine months on the staff of the Naval Air Basic Training Command at Pensacola. ^[52][48] In September 1964, he became a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Meridian in Mississippi,^[54][48] where McCain Field was named for his grandfather. A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly Aircraft. Naval Air Station Meridian or NAS Meridian is a military airport located 11 miles northeast of Meridian, Mississippi in Lauderdale County Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States ^[55]

During the 1964 stint at Pensacola, he began a relationship with Carol Shepp, a successful swimwear model^[56] originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Carol Shepp McCain (born 1937 or 1938 She first knew John McCain while he was attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis from 1954 to 1958 A model is a person who is posed or displayed for the purpose of Art, Fashion, or other products and Advertising. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə ^[50][49] They had known each other at Annapolis and she had married and then divorced one of his classmates. Annapolis is the capital of the US state of Maryland, as well as the County seat of Anne Arundel County. ^[49][52] McCain told her he wanted to do something important with his life, so he would be recorded in history. ^[57] On July 3, 1965, McCain married Shepp in Philadelphia. Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ^[58] She had two children, Douglas and Andrew, born in 1959 and 1962 respectively;^[59] he adopted them the following year. ^[60] Carol and he then had a daughter named Sidney in September 1966. ^[61]

In late 1965, he had his third close call when a flameout in his trainer jet over Norfolk, Virginia led to his ejecting safely before his plane crashed. A flameout refers to the failure of a Jet engine caused by the extinction of the flame in the Combustion chamber. Norfolk is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States ^[62] While at Meridian, McCain requested a combat assignment. ^[62] In October 1966, he was slated for upcoming Vietnam duty, and so reported to a Replacement Air Group squadron at Naval Air Station Cecil Field in Florida for A-4 Skyhawk training. A Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS is a unit of the United States Navy and Marine Corps that trains Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers (NFOs Naval Air Station Cecil Field or NAS Cecil Field was a United States Navy base located in Duval County, Florida. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout ^[62][63][48] Made a lieutenant commander in January 1967,^[48] McCain joined the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal by May 1967,^[48] flying Skyhawks with the VA-46 "Clansmen" squadron. In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with 1956–1962 From her home port Norfolk Virginia, Forrestal spent the first year of service in intensive training operations off the Virginia Capes Attack Squadron 46 (VA-46 or ATKRON 46 was an attack squadron of the United States Navy that was active during the Cold War. ^[64] Forrestal conducted training exercises in the Atlantic throughout the spring, then set sail for the Pacific in June. ^[65] By this time, Jack McCain had risen in the ranks, making rear admiral in 1958 and vice admiral in 1963;^[66] in May 1967, Jack McCain was promoted to four-star admiral, and became Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe, stationed in London. The uniformed services of the United States have two grades of rear admirals. In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric United States Naval Forces Europe is the United States Navy component of the United States European Command. ^[3]

Vietnam operations

On July 25, 1967, Forrestal reached Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin^[65] and joined Operation Rolling Thunder, the 1965–1968 bombing campaign against North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Yankee Station was a point in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam used by the U The Gulf of Tonkin, in Vietnamese: Vịnh Bắc Bộ or in Chinese: Beibu Wan is an arm of the South China Sea. Operation Rolling Thunder was the title of a gradual and sustained U The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN or less commonly Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa was a Country on the northern half of Vietnam The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia ^[58][67] The alpha strikes flown from Forrestal were against specific, pre-selected targets such as arms depots, factories, and bridges. Alpha strike is a term used by the United States Navy to denote a large air attack by an Aircraft carrier air wing first coined during the Vietnam War. ^[68] They were quite dangerous, due to the strength of the North Vietnamese air defenses, which used Soviet-designed and -supplied surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery, and MiG jet interceptors. The Vietnam People's Army ( VPA) (Quân Đội Nhân Dân Việt Nam is the official name of the Armed forces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 A surface to air missile ( SAM) or ground-to-air missile ( GTAM) is a Missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy Aircraft Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces JSC "RSK "MiG" or Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG in full (formerly Mikoyan or Mikoyan-i-Gurevich Design Bureau, Микоян ^[68] McCain's first five attack missions over North Vietnam went without incident,^[69] and while still unconcerned with minor Navy regulations, McCain had garnered the reputation of a serious aviator. ^[53] McCain and his fellow pilots were frustrated by Rolling Thunder's micromanagement from Washington;^[68] he would later write that, "The target list was so restricted that we had to go back and hit the same targets over and over again. . . . Most of our pilots flying the missions believed that our targets were virtually worthless. In all candor, we thought our civilian commanders were complete idiots who didn’t have the least notion of what it took to win the war. "^[67]

Crew members fighting the fires on board USS Forrestal, July 29, 1967. 1956–1962 From her home port Norfolk Virginia, Forrestal spent the first year of service in intensive training operations off the Virginia Capes Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar.

McCain was almost killed on board Forrestal on July 29, 1967. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. While preparing to launch attacks, a Zuni rocket from an F-4 Phantom accidentally fired across the carrier's deck. The Zuni is a 50 inch (127mm unguided Rocket deployed by the United States armed forces. The rocket struck either McCain's A-4E Skyhawk or one near it. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout ^[65][70] The impact ruptured the Skyhawk's fuel tank, which ignited the fuel and knocked two bombs loose. ^[71] McCain later said, "I thought my aircraft exploded. Flames were everywhere. "^[65] McCain escaped from his jet by climbing out the cockpit, working himself to the nose of the jet, and jumping off its refueling probe onto the burning deck. ^[72] His flight suit caught on fire as he rolled through the flames, but he was able to put it out. ^[72] He went to help another pilot trying to escape the fire when the first bomb exploded; McCain was thrown backwards ten feet (three meters)^[73] and struck in the legs and chest by fragments. ^[65][72] The ensuing fire on board killed 134 sailors, injured scores of others, destroyed at least 20 aircraft, and took 24 hours to control. On 29 July 1967 a devastating fire and series of chain-reaction explosions caused great loss of life on the Aircraft carrier after an unusual electrical anomaly discharged a Zuni ^[71][65][74] In Saigon a day after the conflagration, McCain praised the heroism of enlisted men who gave their lives trying to save the pilots on deck,^[73] and told New York Times reporter R. W. Apple, Jr. that, "It's a difficult thing to say. Raymond Walter Apple Jr ( November 20 1934 &ndash October 4 2006) known to all as "Johnny" but bylined as R But now that I've seen what the bombs and the napalm did to the people on our ship, I'm not so sure that I want to drop any more of that stuff on North Vietnam. "^[75] But such a change of course was unlikely; as McCain said, "I always wanted to be in the Navy. I was born into it and I never really considered another profession. But I always had trouble with the regimentation. "^[75]

As Forrestal headed for repairs, McCain volunteered to join the VA-163 "Saints" squadron on board the short-staffed USS Oriskany. Attack Squadron 163 (VA-163 Saints was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Construction The name Oriskany was originally assigned to, but that hull was renamed when the keel was laid in 1942 ^[76] This ship had earlier endured its own deck fire disaster^[77] and its squadrons had suffered some of the heaviest losses during Rolling Thunder. The Saints had a reputation for aggressive, daring attacks, but paid the price:^[78] in 1967, the Saints lost one-third of their pilots killed or captured, and all of their original fifteen A-4s had been destroyed. ^[78] McCain joined Oriskany on September 30, 1967,^[78] for a tour he expected would finish early the next summer. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ^[79] He volunteered to fly the squadron's most dangerous missions right away, rather than work his way up to them. ^[80] During October 1967, the pilots operated in constant twelve-hour on, twelve-hour off shifts. ^[81] McCain would be awarded a Navy Commendation Medal for leading his air section through heavy enemy fire during an October 18 raid on the Lac Trai shipyard in Haiphong. The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military award which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid ^[82] On October 25, McCain's successful attack on the Phuc Yen airfield north of Hanoi against a barrage of anti-aircraft and surface-to-air missile fire would garner him the Bronze Star Medal. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Phuc (Phúc Yên is a town district (''thị xã'' of Vinh Phuc Province in the Red River Delta region of Vietnam. Hanoi ( Vietnamese: Hà Nội Hán Tự: 河[[wikt 内|内]], estimated population 3398889 (2007, is the Capital of Vietnam The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration which may be awarded for bravery acts of merit or meritorious service ^[82] Air defenses around Hanoi were now the strongest they would be during the entire war. ^[83]

Prisoner of war

John McCain was flying an A-4E Skyhawk like this one (from a different Oriskany squadron) in 1967, when he was shot down. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Construction The name Oriskany was originally assigned to, but that hull was renamed when the keel was laid in 1942

McCain being pulled out of Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi and about to become a prisoner of war. Trúc Bạch Lake ( Vietnamese: Hồ Trúc Bạch Hán Tự: 湖竹白 meaning "White Bamboo Lake" is one of the many fresh-water lakes Hanoi ( Vietnamese: Hà Nội Hán Tự: 河[[wikt 内|内]], estimated population 3398889 (2007, is the Capital of Vietnam ^[84] October 26, 1967. Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar.

On October 26, 1967, McCain was flying his twenty-third mission, part of a twenty-plane attack against the Yen Phu thermal power plant in central Hanoi^[85][86] that had almost always been off-limits to U. Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. A thermal power station is a Power plant in which the prime mover is Steam driven Hanoi ( Vietnamese: Hà Nội Hán Tự: 河[[wikt 内|内]], estimated population 3398889 (2007, is the Capital of Vietnam S. raids. ^[83] As he neared the target, warning systems in McCain's A-4E Skyhawk told him he was in danger from enemy fire. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout ^[87] He held his dive until he released his bombs at about 3,500 feet (1,000 meters)^[88] (he would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this day). The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in ^[82] As he started to pull up, the Skyhawk's wing was blown off by a Soviet-made SA-2 anti-aircraft missile fired by the North Vietnamese Air Defense Command's 61st Battalion. ^[83]

McCain's plane went into a vertical inverted spin. In aviation a spin is an aggravated stall resulting in rotation about the center of gravity wherein the aircraft follows a downward corkscrew path ^[89] Bailing out upside down at high speed,^[90] the force of the ejection fractured McCain's right arm in three places, his left arm, and his right leg, and knocked him unconscious. In Aircraft, an ejection seat is a system designed to rescue the pilot or other crew of an aircraft (usually military in an emergency ^[90] McCain nearly drowned after his parachute dropped him into Trúc Bạch Lake in Hanoi. Trúc Bạch Lake ( Vietnamese: Hồ Trúc Bạch Hán Tự: 湖竹白 meaning "White Bamboo Lake" is one of the many fresh-water lakes ^[85] Some Vietnamese pulled him ashore. ^[87] After he regained consciousness, a mob gathered around, spat on him, kicked him, and stripped him of his clothes; others crushed his left shoulder with the butt of a rifle and bayoneted him in his left foot and abdominal area. ^[90][87] He was then transported to Hanoi's main Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton" by American POWs. The Hoa Lo Prison (Hỏa Lò later known to American prisoners of war as the "Hanoi Hilton", was a Prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam ^[91]

McCain reached Hoa Lo in the worst physical shape of any prisoner during the war. ^[91] His captors refused to give him medical care unless he gave them military information; they beat and interrogated him, but McCain only offered his name, rank, serial number, and date of birth^[92][93] (all that is required under the Geneva Conventions). The Third Geneva Convention (or GCIII) of 1949 one of the Geneva Conventions, is a treaty agreement that primarily concerns the treatment of Prisoners of Soon thinking he was near death, McCain said he would give them more information if taken to the hospital,^[92] hoping he could then put them off once he was treated. ^[94] A prison doctor came and said it was too late, as McCain was about to die anyway. ^[92] Only when the North Vietnamese discovered that his father was a top admiral did they give him medical care^[92] — calling him "the crown prince"^[91] — and announce his capture. At this point, two days after McCain's plane went down, that event and his status as a POW made the front pages of The New York Times^[75] and The Washington Post. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D ^[95] Interrogation and beatings resumed in the hospital; McCain gave his ship's name, squadron's name, and the attack's intended target^[96] (disclosing this information was in violation of the U.S. Code of Conduct, which McCain later wrote he regretted, although he saw the information as being of no practical use to the North Vietnamese). The Code of the US Fighting Force is a Code of conduct that is an " ethical guide" and a United States Department of Defense directive consisting ^[97] Further coerced to give future targets, he named cities that had already been bombed, and responding to demands for the names of his squadron members, he supplied instead the names of the Green Bay Packers' offensive line. The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay Wisconsin. In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time ^[96][98]

McCain spent six weeks in the hospital,^[85] receiving marginal care in a dirty, wet environment. ^[99] A prolonged attempt to set the fractures on his right arm, done without anesthetic, was unsuccessful;^[100] he received an operation on his broken leg but no treatment for his broken left arm. ^[101] He was temporarily taken to a clean room and interviewed by a French television reporter whose report was carried months later on CBS. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. ^[102] McCain was observed by a variety of North Vietnamese, including Defense Minister and Army commander-in-chief General Vo Nguyen Giap. ^[103] Many of the North Vietnamese observers assumed that McCain must be part of America's political-military-economic elite. ^[104] Now having lost fifty pounds (twenty-three kilograms), in a chest cast, covered in grime and eyes full of fever, and with his hair turned white,^[85] in December 1967 McCain was sent to a prisoner-of-war camp on the outskirts of Hanoi nicknamed "the Plantation". ^[105] He was placed in a cell with two other Americans (one was George "Bud" Day, an Air Force pilot and future Medal of Honor recipient), who did not expect him to live a week. George Everett "Bud" Day (born 24 February 1925 is a retired U The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. ^[106] They nursed McCain and kept him alive;^[103] Day would later remember that McCain had "a fantastic will to live. "^[107]

In March 1968, McCain was put into solitary confinement, where he would remain for two years. Solitary confinement, colloquially referred to in American English as "the hole" or "the pound" (or in British English "the block" is a Punishment ^[108] Unknown to the POWs, in May 1968, Jack McCain was named Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC) effective in July, stationed in Honolulu and commander of all U. The United States Pacific Command ( USPACOM) is a Unified Combatant Command of the armed forces of the United States, led by the Commander Honolulu is the Capital and most populous Census-designated place (CDP in the U S. forces in the Vietnam theater. ^[109][3] John McCain was soon offered a chance to return home early. ^[110] The North Vietnamese wanted a worldwide propaganda coup by appearing merciful,^[111] and also wanted to show other POWs that elites like McCain were willing to be treated preferentially. ^[110] McCain turned down the offer of release, due to the POWs' "first in, first out" interpretation of the U.S. Code of Conduct:^[112] he would only accept the offer if every man taken in before him was released as well. The Code of the US Fighting Force is a Code of conduct that is an " ethical guide" and a United States Department of Defense directive consisting ^[85][113] McCain's refusal to be released was even remarked upon by North Vietnamese senior negotiator Le Duc Tho to U. Lê Ðức Thọ ( ( October 14, 1911  &ndash October 13, 1990) was a Vietnamese Revolutionary, General S. envoy Averell Harriman, during the ongoing Paris Peace Talks. William Averell Harriman ( November 15 1891 July 26 1986) was an American Democratic Party politician businessman The Paris Peace Accords (or Paris Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam) were signed on January 27, 1973 by the governments of the ^[114]

In August 1968, a program of vigorous torture methods began on McCain. ^[115] The North Vietnamese used rope bindings to put him into prolonged, painful positions and severely beat him every two hours, all at the same time as he was suffering from dysentery. Dysentery (formerly known as flux or the bloody flux) is an infection of the digestive system that results in severe Diarrhea containing mucus and blood ^[115][85] Teeth and bones were broken again, as was McCain's spirit; the beginning of a suicide attempt was stopped by guards. ^[85] After four days of this, McCain signed and taped^[116] an anti-American propaganda "confession" that said, in part, "I am a black criminal and I have performed the deeds of an air pirate. I almost died, and the Vietnamese people saved my life, thanks to the doctors. "^[115][85] He used stilted Communist jargon and ungrammatical language to signal that the statement was forced. ^[98] He felt then and always that he had dishonored his country, his family, his comrades and himself by his statement,^[117] but as he would later write, "I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine. "^[89] His injuries to this day have left him incapable of raising his arms above his head. ^[24] Two weeks later his captors tried to force him to sign a second statement; his will to resist restored, he refused. ^[115] He sometimes received two to three beatings per week because of his continued refusal;^[118] the sustained mistreatment went on for over a year. ^[107] His boxing experience from his Naval Academy days helped him withstand the battering,^[35] and the North Vietnamese were never able to break him again. ^[115]

Other American POWs were similarly tortured and maltreated in order to extract "confessions" and propaganda statements,^[119][120] with many enduring even worse treatment than McCain. ^[121] Under extreme duress, virtually all the POWs eventually yielded something to their captors. ^[122][119] On one occasion, a guard surreptitiously loosened McCain's painful rope bindings for a night; when, months later, the guard later saw McCain on Christmas Day, he stood next to McCain and silently drew a cross in the dirt with his foot. The Christian cross is the best-known Religious symbol of Christianity. ^[123] In October 1968, McCain's isolation was partly relieved when Ernest C. Brace was placed in the cell next to him;^[124] he taught Brace the prisoners' tap code method of communication. Ernest C Brace was the longest-held civilian Prisoner of war (POW in Vietnam. The Tap Code is a Cipher, commonly used by prisoners to communicate with one another ^[125] On Christmas Eve 1968, a church service for the POWs was staged for photographers and film cameras; McCain defied North Vietnamese instructions to be quiet, speaking out details of his treatment then shouting "Fu-u-u-u-ck you, you son of a bitch!" and giving the finger whenever a camera was pointed at him. Christmas Eve, December 24, is the day before Christmas Day, the celebrated birthday of Jesus. In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal Worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday or Saturday in In Western cultures, the finger (as in giving someone the finger) is a well-known Obscene Hand gesture made by extending the middle finger of ^[126] McCain refused to meet with various anti-Vietnam War peace groups coming to Hanoi,^[127] such as those led by David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, and Rennie Davis, not wanting to give either them or the North Vietnamese a propaganda victory based on his connection to his father. Opposition to US involvement in the Vietnam War is significant because domestic protest in the U David Dellinger ( August 22, 1915 – May 25, 2004) one of the most influential American radicals of the 20th century was a Thomas Emmet Hayden (born December 11 1939) is an American social and political activist and politician most famous for his involvement Rennie Davis (born Rennard Cordon Davis, 1941 was a prominent American anti-Vietnam War protest leader of the 1960s ^[89] McCain was still badly hobbled by his injuries, earning the nickname "Crip" among the other POWs,^[128][129] but despite his physical condition, continued beatings and isolation, he was one of the key players in the Plantation's resistance efforts. ^[130]

In May 1969, U.S. Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird began publicly questioning North Vietnamese treatment of U. The United States Secretary of Defense ( SECDEF) is the head of the U Melvin Robert (Bom Laird (born September 1, 1922) is an American politician and writer S. prisoners. ^[131] On June 5, 1969, a United Press International report described a Radio Hanoi broadcast that denied any such mistreatment. Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Radio Hanoi was a propaganda radio station run by the North Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War. ^[131] The broadcast excerpted from McCain's forced "confession" of a year before, including a statement where he said he had bombed "cities, towns and villages" and had received "very good medical treatment" as a prisoner. ^[131][132] In late 1969, treatment of McCain and the other POWs suddenly improved. ^[133][134] North Vietnamese ruler Ho Chi Minh had died the previous month, causing a possible change in policy towards POWs. For the city named after him see Ho Chi Minh City. Hồ Chí Minh (name ^[133] A badly beaten and weakened POW who had been released that summer disclosed to the world press the conditions to which they were being subjected,^[89] and the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, including McCain's brother Joe, heightened awareness of the POWs' plight. The National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia is an American 501(c(3 Non-profit organization. Joseph Pinckney McCain II He has voiced his support for Israel in its struggle against terrorism ^[135] In December 1969, McCain was transferred back to the Hoa Lo "Hanoi Hilton";^[136] his solitary confinement ended in March 1970. ^[137] When the prisoners talked about what they wanted to do once they got out, McCain said he wanted to become President. ^[57] McCain consented to a January 1970 interview outside Hoa Lo with Spanish-born, Cuban psychologist Fernando Barral, that was published in the official Cuban newspaper Granma. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la Granma is the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party. ^[138] In it, McCain talked about his life and expressed no remorse for his actions in bombing North Vietnam,^[138] and Barral proclaimed him "an insensitive individual without human depth. "^[139] The POWs issued an edict forbidding any further such interviews,^[138] and despite pressure McCain subsequently refused to see any anti-war groups or journalists sympathetic to the North Vietnamese regime. ^[139]

McCain and other prisoners were moved around to different camps at times, but conditions over the next several years were generally more tolerable than they had been before. ^[89] Unbeknownst to them, each year that Jack McCain was CINCPAC, he paid a Christmastime visit to the American troops in South Vietnam serving closest to the DMZ; he would stand alone and look north, to be as close to his son as he could get. "RVN" redirects here RVN is also the former callsign of a TV station in Wagga Wagga New South Wales Australia The Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone was established as a dividing line between North and South Vietnam as a result of the First Indochina War. ^[140] By 1971, some 30–50 percent of the POWs had become disillusioned about the war and less reluctant to make propaganda statements for the North Vietnamese. ^[122] McCain was not among them; he participated in a defiant church service^[141] and lead an effort to only write letters home that portrayed the camp in a negative light;^[142] he spent much of the year in a camp reserved for "bad attitude" cases. ^[122] Back at the "Hanoi Hilton" from November 1971 onward,^[143] McCain and the other POWs cheered the resumed bombing of the north starting in April 1972, whose targets included the Hanoi area and whose daily orders were issued by Jack McCain, knowing his son was in the vicinity. For the December 1972 military operation see Operation Linebacker II. ^[144] Jack McCain's tour as CINCPAC ended in September 1972,^[145] despite his desire to have it extended so he could see the war to its conclusion. ^[140] The POWs cheered even more during the intense "Christmas Bombing" campaign of December 1972, when Hanoi was subjected for the first time to repeated B-52 raids. Operation Linebacker II was a US Seventh Air Force and US Navy Task Force 77 aerial bombardment campaign conducted against targets in the ^[144] Although its explosions lit the night sky and shook the walls of the camp, the POWs saw it as a forceful measure to compel North Vietnam to finally come to terms. ^[144]

Altogether, McCain was held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and a half years. The Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27, 1973, ending direct U. The Paris Peace Accords (or Paris Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam) were signed on January 27, 1973 by the governments of the Events 98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. S. involvement in the war, but the Operation Homecoming arrangements for POWs took longer. Operation Homecoming was a series of diplomatic negotiations that in January 1973 made possible the return of 591 American prisoners of war held by North Vietnam ^[146] McCain was finally released from captivity on March 14, 1973,^[147] having been a POW for almost an extra five years due to his refusal to accept the out-of-sequence repatriation offer. Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. For his actions as a POW, McCain would be awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, three more instances of the Bronze Star, another instance of the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart. The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration which may be awarded for bravery acts of merit or meritorious service The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military award which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving ^[82][48]

Return to United States

Interview with McCain on April 24, 1973, after his return home. Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar.

Upon his return to the United States, McCain was reunited with his wife Carol. She had suffered her own crippling, near-death ordeal during his captivity, due to an automobile accident in December 1969 that left her hospitalized for six months and facing twenty-three operations and ongoing physical therapy. ^[148] Businessman and POW advocate Ross Perot had paid for her medical care. Henry Ross Perot (born June 27 1930 is an American businessman from Texas, who is best known for seeking the office of President of the United States in ^[57] By the time McCain saw her, she was four inches (ten centimeters) shorter, on crutches, and substantially heavier. ^[57] As a returned POW, McCain became a celebrity of sorts: The New York Times ran a story and front-page photo of him getting off the plane at Clark Air Base in the Philippines;^[147][149] he authored a long cover story describing his ordeal and his support for the Nixon administration's handling of the war in U.S. News & World Report;^[89] he participated in several parades and personal appearances; and a photograph of him on crutches shaking the hand of President Richard Nixon at a White House reception for returning POWs became iconic. Clark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP USNews & World Report is an influential weekly American Newsmagazine published in Washington D ^[150][151] The McCains became frequent guests of honor at dinners hosted by Governor of California Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan;^[152] Ronald Reagan had been admired by McCain and other POWs even while in captivity, and would serve as a later role model for McCain. The Governor of California is the highest executive authority in the state government whose responsibilities include making annual "State of the State" addresses Nancy Davis Reagan (born Anne Frances Robbins on July 6 1921 is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and served as an influential ^[153]

McCain underwent three operations and other treatment for his injuries,^[154] spending three months at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Jacksonville. ^[155][48] Psychological tests, given to all the returning POWs, showed that McCain had "adjusted exceptionally well to repatriation" and had "an ambitious, striving, successful pattern of adjustment. "^[156] McCain told examiners that he had withstood his ordeal by having "Faith in country, United States Navy, family, and God. "^[157] Unlike many veterans, McCain did not experience flashbacks or nightmares of his Vietnam experience. ^[158] McCain was promoted to commander effective July 1973^[48] and attended the National War College in Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. during the 1973–1974 academic year. In the United States, Commander is a military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the branch of service The National War College (NWC of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. Fort Lesley J McNair is a United States Army post located on the point of land where the Potomac River and Anacostia River join in Washington Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D ^[159][160] There he studied intensively the history of Vietnam and the French and American wars there. The Indochina Wars ( Vietnamese: Chiến tranh Đông Dương) refers to Wars of national liberation and attempts of the Vietnamese communists to assert regional ^[161] By the time he graduated,^[162] he concluded that mistakes by American political and military leaders had doomed the war effort. ^[161] He accepted the right of the anti-war movement in the U. S. to have exercised their freedom to protest, and he adopted a live-and-let-live attitude towards those who had evaded the draft. A draft dodger, draft evader or draft resister, is a person who avoids ("dodges" or otherwise violates the Conscription policies of the ^[161] Nor did the vast changes in American social mores that had taken place during his absence bother him, as it did many other former POWs. ^[151] McCain returned to Saigon in November 1974;^[163] he and a couple of other former POWs received the National Order of Vietnam, the country's highest honor. The National Order of Vietnam was a combined military-civilian decoration of South Vietnam and was considered the highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual ^[158] He also spoke at the South Vietnamese war college, five months before Saigon fell. The Fall of Saigon (in Vietnamese: Sự kiện 30 tháng 4 - April 30 Incident; Giải phóng miền Nam - The liberation of the south ^[163] McCain resolved not to become a "professional POW" but to move forward and rebuild his life. ^[161] By now a commander,^[150] few thought McCain could fly again, but he was determined to try, and during all this time he engaged in nine months of grueling, painful physical therapy, especially to get his knees to bend again. In the United States, Commander is a military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the branch of service ^[57]

McCain recuperated just enough to pass his flight physical^[57] and have his flight status reinstated. ^[150] In August 1974, he was assigned to the Replacement Air Group VA-174 "Hellrazors". A Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS is a unit of the United States Navy and Marine Corps that trains Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers (NFOs Attack Squadron 174 ( VA-174) also known as the "Hellrazors" was a United States Navy attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Cecil Field ^[48] This was an A-7 Corsair II training squadron located at Naval Air Station Cecil Field outside Jacksonville, Florida^[164] and the largest aviation squadron in the Navy. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Naval Air Station Cecil Field or NAS Cecil Field was a United States Navy base located in Duval County, Florida. ^[165] He became its executive officer in 1975,^[165] and on July 1, 1976, he was made VA-174's commanding officer. While executive officer literally refers to a person responsible for the performance of duties involved in running an Organization, the exact meaning of the role is variable "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The commanding officer ( CO) is the officer in command of a Military unit. ^[164][166] This last assignment was controversial, as he did not have the required experience of having commanded a smaller squadron first^[163] (something that he now had too high a rank to do). ^[167] While some senior officers resented McCain's presence as favoritism due to his father, junior officers rallied to him and helped him qualify for A-7 carrier landings. ^[57] McCain removed personnel he thought ineffective and sought to improve morale and productivity by establishing an informal rapport with enlisted men. ^[166][57] Dealing with limited post-Vietnam defense budgets and parts shortages,^[166][57] McCain's leadership abilities were credited with turning around a mediocre unit and improving its aircraft readiness; for the first time, all fifty of its aircraft were able to fly. ^[166][57] Although some operational metrics declined during the period,^[165] the pilot safety metrics improved to the point of having zero accidents. ^[166][165] The squadron was awarded its first Meritorious Unit Commendation in twenty-three years,^[164][57] while McCain received a Meritorious Service Medal. The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious The Meritorious Service Medal is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious ^[82] McCain would later state that being commanding officer of VA-174 was the most rewarding assignment of his naval career. ^[168] When his stint ended in July 1977,^[164] the change of command ceremony was attended by his father and the rest of his family, as well as some of his fellow POWs; speaker Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, Jr. said that John had joined Jack and Slew McCain in a place of honor in Navy tradition,^[163] a mention that deeply moved McCain. Isaac Campbell Kidd Jr ( August 14, 1919 – June 27, 1999) was an American Admiral in the United States Navy ^[163]

During their time in Jacksonville, the McCains' marriage began to falter. ^[169] McCain had extramarital affairs,^[169][170] and he would later say, "My marriage's collapse was attributable to my own selfishness and immaturity more than it was to Vietnam, and I cannot escape blame by pointing a finger at the war. The blame was entirely mine. "^[169] His wife Carol would later say that the failure was not due to her accident^[56] and that "I attribute [the breakup of our marriage] more to John turning 40 and wanting to be 25 again than I do to anything else. "^[169] John McCain's biographer, Robert Timberg, believes that "Vietnam did play a part, perhaps not the major part, but more than a walk-on. "^[171][172] According to John McCain, "I had changed, she had changed. . . . People who have been apart that much change. "^[173]

Senate liaison and second marriage

McCain had thought about entering politics since his return from Vietnam,^[15] although 1964 had been the only time in his life he had ever voted. ^[15] In 1976, he had briefly thought of running for the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida,^[174] but had decided he could not win. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. ^[15] Instead, based upon the recommendation of Chief of Naval Operations James L. Holloway III,^[150] in July 1977 McCain was appointed to the Senate Liaison Office within the Navy's Office of Legislative Affairs^[48] (an assignment his father had once held). Organization of the CNO's Office The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations includes the Chief of Naval Operations the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, the Deputy Chiefs James Lemuel Holloway III (born 1922 is a retired United States Navy Admiral and Naval aviator who was highly decorated for his actions during World The Office of Legislative Affairs is a United States Navy function which coordinates activities between the Department of the Navy and the United States Congress ^[175][174] The office's role mostly consisted of providing constituent service and acting as a facilitator among legislators, the Department of Defense, and lobbyists. In politics the term constituent has three separate meanings A constituent state or constituent nation is a fundamental part of a union which has come together with others to form ^[175] McCain would later say the liaison job represented "[my] real entry into the world of politics and the beginning of my second career as a public servant". ^[150] McCain's lively personality and knowledge of military matters made his post in the Russell Senate Office Building a popular gathering spot for senators and staff;^[175] he also frequently escorted congressional delegations on overseas trips. The Russell Senate Office Building is the oldest of the United States Senate office buildings ^[175] McCain was influenced by senators of both parties, and especially by a strong bond with ranking Senate Armed Services Committee member John Tower of Texas. The Committee on Armed Services is a Committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the John Goodwin Tower ( September 29, 1925 – April 5, 1991) was the first Republican United States senator from Texas ^[176] During 1978 and 1979, McCain played a key behind-the-scenes role in gaining congressional financing for a new supercarrier against the wishes of the Carter administration and Navy Secretary W. Graham Claytor Jr.^[177][57] McCain was still living with his wife, although they had been briefly separated soon after returning to Washington. This is about the warships For the television program see Supercarrier (TV series. James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 The United States Secretary of the Navy ( SECNAV) is the Civilian head of the Department of the Navy. William Graham Claytor Jr ( March 14, 1912 - May 14, 1994) was an American Lawyer ^[57]

In April 1979,^[57] while attending a military reception for senators in Hawaii, McCain met and began an extramarital relationship with Cindy Lou Hensley, eighteen years his junior,^[178] a teacher from Phoenix, Arizona who was the daughter of James Willis Hensley, a wealthy Anheuser-Busch distributor, and Marguerite "Smitty" Hensley. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the Phoenix (ˈfiːˌnɪks O'odham Skikik, Yavapai Wasinka, Western Apache Fiinigis, Navajo Hoozdo, James Willis "Jim" Hensley ( April 12, 1920 &ndash June 21, 2000) was an American Businessman in the Liquor Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc ( (ˈænhаɪzər bʊʃ is the largest Brewing company in the United States with a 48 ^[169] In August 1979, McCain was promoted to captain,^[48] and became Director of the Senate Liaison Office. See " Captain " for other versions of this rank In the uniformed services of the United States, captain is a federal ^[175][82]

The McCains separated in late 1979;^[57] Carol McCain accepted a divorce in February of 1980,^[57] and John McCain filed for and obtained the uncontested divorce in Florida on April 2, 1980. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) ^[179] He gave her a settlement that included alimony, child support, houses in Virginia and Florida, and lifelong financial support for her ongoing medical treatments resulting from the 1969 automobile accident;^[56] they would remain on good terms. ^[169] McCain and Hensley were married on May 17, 1980^[58] in Phoenix, Arizona, with Senators William Cohen and Gary Hart as best man and groomsman. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) William Sebastian Cohen (born 28 August 1940) is an author and American politician from the U For the football player see Gary Hart (footballer. Gary Hart (born Gary Warren Hartpence, November 28, 1936 ^[169] McCain's children were upset with him and did not attend the wedding,^[57] but after several years they reconciled with him and Cindy. ^[57][61] Carol McCain became a personal assistant to Nancy Reagan and later head of the White House Visitors Center. Nancy Davis Reagan (born Anne Frances Robbins on July 6 1921 is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and served as an influential ^[180] The Reagans were shocked at the divorce;^[56] Nancy Reagan's relationship with John McCain turned cold for a while following it, but eventually the two renewed their friendship;^[181] The same happened with most of McCain's other friends, who were eventually won over by his combination of charm and penitence. ^[57]

Around the end of 1980, McCain decided to retire from the Navy. ^[182] He had not been given a major sea command,^[183] and his physical condition had deteriorated such that he had failed a flight physical required for any carrier command position. Military and civilian pilots must pass routine medical examinations known as "Flight Physicals" in order to retain the privilege of piloting an aircraft ^[184] McCain thought he might make rear admiral, but probably not vice admiral, and never four-star admiral as his grandfather and father had been. The uniformed services of the United States have two grades of rear admirals. In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Please see " Admiral " for other nations which use this rank In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the ^[183] McCain would later write that he did not anguish over his decision;^[182] he was excited by the idea of being a member of Congress himself^[176] and was soon recruiting a campaign manager that Cohen knew, for a planned run for a House seat from Arizona. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. ^[57] In early 1981, Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman told McCain that he was about to be selected for one-star rear admiral, but McCain declined, telling Lehman that he could "do more good" in Congress. The United States Secretary of the Navy ( SECNAV) is the Civilian head of the Department of the Navy. John F Lehman Jr (born September 14, 1942) is an American Investment banker and Writer who served as Secretary of the The uniformed services of the United States have two grades of rear admirals. ^[176]

McCain retired with an effective date of April 1, 1981,^[48] the rank of captain,^[34] and a disability pension due to his wartime injuries. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 See " Captain " for other versions of this rank In the uniformed services of the United States, captain is a federal A disability pension is a form of Pension given to those people who are permanently or temporarily unable to work due to a Disability. ^[185] For his service in the Senate liaison office, McCain was awarded a second instance of the Legion of Merit. The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding ^[82] Jack McCain died on March 22, 1981. Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 ^[186] The same day in late March saw McCain attending his father's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, wearing his uniform for the final time before signing his discharge papers, and then flying to Phoenix with his wife Cindy to begin his new life. Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States, established during the American Civil War ^[186]

Decorations

	Silver Star[48]
	Legion of Merit with Combat V and one gold star[48]
	Distinguished Flying Cross[48]
	Bronze Star with Combat V and two gold stars[48]
	Purple Heart with one gold star[48]
	Meritorious Service Medal[48]
	Air Medal with one bronze star and Numeral "2"[48]
	Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and one gold star[48]
	Combat Action Ribbon[48]
	Prisoner of War Medal[48]
	Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuban quarantine)[48]
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuban quarantine)[48]
	National Defense Service Medal[48]
	Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars[48]
	National Order of Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam)[158][187]
	Vietnam Campaign Medal with device (Republic of Vietnam)[48]

Bibliography

• Alexander, Paul (2002). John Sidney McCain III retired from the United States Navy in April 1981 John McCain, the United States Senator from Arizona, launched his first candidacy for the presidency of the United States in the 2000 John Sidney McCain III ran for President of the United States in the 2000 presidential campaign, but failed to gain the Republican Party nomination John McCain, the senior United States Senator from Arizona, launched his second candidacy for the presidency of the United States John McCain 's personal character has dominated the image and perception of him US Senator John McCain ( R - AZ) a candidate and the nominee of the Republican Party in the 2008 U The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding The Valor device, also known as a combat distinguishing device, V-device, "V" device, and Combat V, is an award of the An award star is a decoration issued by the United States military in lieu of multiple awards of the same award for example a second and subsequent Legion of Merit The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration which may be awarded for bravery acts of merit or meritorious service The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving The Meritorious Service Medal is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158 signed by Franklin D The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military award which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service The Combat Action Ribbon ( CAR) is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, and which is The Prisoner of War Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President The Navy Expeditionary Medal is an award of the United States Navy which was first created in August 1936 by General Orders of the Department of the Navy The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President The National Defense Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B The National Order of Vietnam was a combined military-civilian decoration of South Vietnam and was considered the highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual The Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, (also known as South Vietnam) to any member of the United States Australian Paul Alexander (born 1955 is a political writer playwright and former Talk radio host Man of the People: The Life of John McCain. John Wiley & Sons. John Wiley & Sons Inc, also referred to as Wiley, is a global Publishing company that markets its products to professionals and consumers students and instructors ISBN 0-471-22829-X.   Available online in limited preview at Google Books.
• Hubbell, John G. (1976). P. O. W. : A Definitive History of the American Prisoner-Of-War Experience in Vietnam, 1964–1973. New York: Reader's Digest Press. Reader's Digest Press was a United States Publisher of the mid-1970s to early 1980s owned by The Reader's Digest Association. ISBN 0883490919.  
• McCain, John; Mark Salter (1999). Mark Salter is an American Speechwriter from Davenport Iowa, known for his collaborations with United States Senator John McCain Faith of My Fathers. Faith of My Fathers is a 1999 best selling non-fiction book by United States Senator John McCain with Mark Salter. New York: Random House. Random House Inc is the world's largest English-language general trade book publisher ISBN 0-375-50191-6.  
• McCain, John; Mark Salter (2002). Mark Salter is an American Speechwriter from Davenport Iowa, known for his collaborations with United States Senator John McCain Worth the Fighting For. Worth the Fighting For is a 2002 book by United States Senator John McCain with Mark Salter. New York: Random House. Random House Inc is the world's largest English-language general trade book publisher ISBN 0-375-50542-3.  
• Rochester, Stuart I. ; Kiley, Frederick (1999). Honor Bound: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, 1961–1973. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. The U S Naval Institute (USNI, based at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland, is a non-profit professional military association that seeks to offer independent ISBN 1557506949.  
• Timberg, Robert (1999). John McCain: An American Odyssey. New York: Touchstone Books. Simon & Schuster Inc, a division of CBS Corporation, is a Publisher founded in New York in 1924 by Richard L ISBN 0-684-86794-X.   Online access to Chapter 1 is available.
• Timberg, Robert (1996). The Nightingale's Song. New York: Simon & Schuster. Simon & Schuster Inc, a division of CBS Corporation, is a Publisher founded in New York in 1924 by Richard L ISBN 0-684-80301-1.   Online access to a portion of Chapter 1 is available.

References