john mccain
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John McCain
A fighter with no reverse gear
20 Different Schools
Born at an Air Base in Panama. His father and grandfather were U.S. Navy
Admirals. For the first 10 years of his life, the family was frequently transferred
to various naval bases around the Pacific. He attended whatever naval base
school was available, often to the detriment of his education.
Driven to Compete
As a child, he was known for an aggressive drive to compete and prevail. After
WWII, the family settled in Virginia. He ultimately graduated from a top private
school in Alexandria. He earned varsity letters in wrestling, excelling in the
lighter weight classes. He had a continued reputation as a fiery and
contentious personality. At 5’7” and 127 pounds, he competed as a lightweight
boxer, where he lacked skills but was fearless and didn’t have a reverse gear.
A mind of his own
At the U.S. Naval Academy, he was a rebellious midshipman and his record was
ambivalent and lackluster. He had his share of run-ins with faculty and
leadership. He earned membership in the “century club” for receiving over 100
demerits, like talking out of place. He did not take well to those of higher rank
arbitrarily wielding power over him. Despite his low standing, he was a leader
among his fellow midshipmen, especially in organizing off-yard activities. He
graduated from the Naval Academy, 5th from the bottom in class rank.
Naval Aviator
Upon graduation he was commissioned as an ensign, and trained as a naval
aviator. He earned a reputation as a party guy, drove a Corvette, and dated an
exotic dancer, and as he would later say, generally misused his good health and
youth. He became a navy pilot and was stationed on aircraft carriers in the
Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He later became a flight instructor
at McCain Field in Mississippi, named for his grandfather.
Asked for Combat Duty
He grew frustrated with his training role and requested a combat assignment.
He served tours of duty on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Forrestal. Forrestal was
assigned to join Operation Rolling Thunder, the bombing campaign against North
Vietnam.
Frustrated with politics
McCain and his fellow pilots were frustrated by micromanagement from
Washington, and their opinion that “the target list was restricted and
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.”
Shot Down Over Hanoi
In October 1967, McCain was flying as part of an attack against a thermal power
plant in Hanoi, a heavily defended target that had previously been off-limits. His
plane was shot down by a Soviet-made missile. He fractured both arms and a leg
and nearly drowned after parachuting into a lake. When he regained
consciousness, a mob gathered around him, kicked him and stripped him of his
clothing, crushed his shoulder and stabbed him. His captors refused to put him
in the hospital, convinced he would soon die anyway. They beat and
interrogated him, but he only offered his name, rank and serial number. When
they discovered his father was a top admiral they finally gave him medical care
and announced his capture.
Captured Barely Alive
He lost 50 pounds and his hair turned white. He was sent to a POW camp into
a cell with 2 other Americans who did not expect him to live a week. They
nursed McCain and kept him alive. He was later put into solitary confinement
for two years.
Refuses Preferential Treatment
During that time, his father was named Commander-in-Chief, Pacific
Command. McCain was immediately offered a chance to return home early.
The North Vietnamese wanted a propaganda coup for the outside world, and a
message that only privilege mattered that they could use against the other
POWs. McCain turned down the offer due to the Code of Conduct of “first
in, first out”. His captors began a program of vigorous torture methods, using
rope bindings and beating every 2 hours. Teeth and bones were broken as were
his spirit, with at least one suicide attempt prevented by guards.
A Hero Returns
After the war ended, he was released, having spent over 5 years in captivity,
although he had been offered his release years earlier. He later published 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. He met President Nixon at a
White House reception for returning POWs.
Determination and Leadership
He underwent treatment and physical therapy, but few thought he would ever
fly again. He recuperated enough to pass his flight physical and became
commanding officer of the largest attack squadron in the navy. His leadership
abilities were credited with turning around a mediocre unit, improving its
aircraft readiness and pilot safety metrics.
Entering Politics
In 1976, McCain became the Navy’s liaison to the U.S. Senate. He soon became
the leader of the operation, which represented his entry into the world of
politics. He remarried and moved to Arizona, where he was elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives and later became U.S. Senator. While generally
adhering to American Conservatism, he established a reputation as a political
maverick for his willingness to defy Republican orthodoxy on several issues. He
made campaign finance reform one of his signature concerns. He was a
candidate in the 2000 presidential election but was defeated by George W. Bush
for the Republican Nomination after closely contested battles in several early
primary states.
In 2007, his campaign nearly collapsed due to financial issues and his support for
comprehensive immigration reform. He has since emerged as one of the leaders
in the Republican race.
A fighter with no reverse gear
20 Different Schools
Born at an Air Base in Panama. His father and grandfather were U.S. Navy
Admirals. For the first 10 years of his life, the family was frequently transferred
to various naval bases around the Pacific. He attended whatever naval base
school was available, often to the detriment of his education.
Driven to Compete
As a child, he was known for an aggressive drive to compete and prevail. After
WWII, the family settled in Virginia. He ultimately graduated from a top private
school in Alexandria. He earned varsity letters in wrestling, excelling in the
lighter weight classes. He had a continued reputation as a fiery and
contentious personality. At 5’7” and 127 pounds, he competed as a lightweight
boxer, where he lacked skills but was fearless and didn’t have a reverse gear.
A mind of his own
At the U.S. Naval Academy, he was a rebellious midshipman and his record was
ambivalent and lackluster. He had his share of run-ins with faculty and
leadership. He earned membership in the “century club” for receiving over 100
demerits, like talking out of place. He did not take well to those of higher rank
arbitrarily wielding power over him. Despite his low standing, he was a leader
among his fellow midshipmen, especially in organizing off-yard activities. He
graduated from the Naval Academy, 5th from the bottom in class rank.
Naval Aviator
Upon graduation he was commissioned as an ensign, and trained as a naval
aviator. He earned a reputation as a party guy, drove a Corvette, and dated an
exotic dancer, and as he would later say, generally misused his good health and
youth. He became a navy pilot and was stationed on aircraft carriers in the
Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He later became a flight instructor
at McCain Field in Mississippi, named for his grandfather.
Asked for Combat Duty
He grew frustrated with his training role and requested a combat assignment.
He served tours of duty on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Forrestal. Forrestal was
assigned to join Operation Rolling Thunder, the bombing campaign against North
Vietnam.
Frustrated with politics
McCain and his fellow pilots were frustrated by micromanagement from
Washington, and their opinion that “the target list was restricted and
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.”
Shot Down Over Hanoi
In October 1967, McCain was flying as part of an attack against a thermal power
plant in Hanoi, a heavily defended target that had previously been off-limits. His
plane was shot down by a Soviet-made missile. He fractured both arms and a leg
and nearly drowned after parachuting into a lake. When he regained
consciousness, a mob gathered around him, kicked him and stripped him of his
clothing, crushed his shoulder and stabbed him. His captors refused to put him
in the hospital, convinced he would soon die anyway. They beat and
interrogated him, but he only offered his name, rank and serial number. When
they discovered his father was a top admiral they finally gave him medical care
and announced his capture.
Captured Barely Alive
He lost 50 pounds and his hair turned white. He was sent to a POW camp into
a cell with 2 other Americans who did not expect him to live a week. They
nursed McCain and kept him alive. He was later put into solitary confinement
for two years.
Refuses Preferential Treatment
During that time, his father was named Commander-in-Chief, Pacific
Command. McCain was immediately offered a chance to return home early.
The North Vietnamese wanted a propaganda coup for the outside world, and a
message that only privilege mattered that they could use against the other
POWs. McCain turned down the offer due to the Code of Conduct of “first
in, first out”. His captors began a program of vigorous torture methods, using
rope bindings and beating every 2 hours. Teeth and bones were broken as were
his spirit, with at least one suicide attempt prevented by guards.
A Hero Returns
After the war ended, he was released, having spent over 5 years in captivity,
although he had been offered his release years earlier. He later published 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. He met President Nixon at a
White House reception for returning POWs.
Determination and Leadership
He underwent treatment and physical therapy, but few thought he would ever
fly again. He recuperated enough to pass his flight physical and became
commanding officer of the largest attack squadron in the navy. His leadership
abilities were credited with turning around a mediocre unit, improving its
aircraft readiness and pilot safety metrics.
Entering Politics
In 1976, McCain became the Navy’s liaison to the U.S. Senate. He soon became
the leader of the operation, which represented his entry into the world of
politics. He remarried and moved to Arizona, where he was elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives and later became U.S. Senator. While generally
adhering to American Conservatism, he established a reputation as a political
maverick for his willingness to defy Republican orthodoxy on several issues. He
made campaign finance reform one of his signature concerns. He was a
candidate in the 2000 presidential election but was defeated by George W. Bush
for the Republican Nomination after closely contested battles in several early
primary states.
In 2007, his campaign nearly collapsed due to financial issues and his support for
comprehensive immigration reform. He has since emerged as one of the leaders
in the Republican race.
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