John McCain

:Alternative meanings: John S. McCain, Sr., John S. McCain, Jr.

Vietnam

A naval aviator, McCain was stationed aboard the USS Forrestal where, on July 29, 1967, he escaped death when a missile accidentally launched across the ship, striking his A-4 Skyhawk. The impact ruptured the fuel tank on his aircraft, the leaking fuel instantly ignited, and knocked a bomb into the fire. McCain escaped from his jet by climbing out of the cockpit, walking down to the nose of the plane, and jumping off the nose boom. A minute and a half after the impact, the bomb exploded underneath the plane, starting a major fire which killed 134 sailors and nearly threatened to destroy the ship.

Related Topics:
Aviator - USS ''Forrestal'' - July 29 - 1967 - A-4 Skyhawk

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Video tape shot aboard the Forrestal shows McCain narrowly escaping the explosion.

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Later in 1967, he was shot down over Vietnam, and was held as a prisoner of war in Hanoi for five-and-a-half years, mostly in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. When the North Vietnamese discovered he was the son and grandson of admirals, he was offered a chance to go home, but he refused to break the military code that POWs be released in the order that they are captured.

Related Topics:
Vietnam - Prisoner of war - Hanoi - Hanoi Hilton

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He was finally released from captivity in 1973, having survived the injuries he received when he was shot down, the beatings from an angry crowd and his captors, a year of torture, and two years of solitary confinement. Once released, his POW injuries prevented him from receiving a sea command, so in 1977, he became a Naval liaison to the Senate. He retired from the Navy in 1981 as a Captain, on the day he watched his father buried next to his grandfather, in Arlington National Cemetery. During his military career he received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, and a Distinguished Flying Cross.

Related Topics:
1973 - Torture - Solitary confinement - 1977 - Arlington National Cemetery - Silver Star - Bronze Star - Legion of Merit - Purple Heart - Distinguished Flying Cross

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McCain is one of only three Vietnam veterans serving in the US Senate, the others being fellow Republican Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, and Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Related Topics:
Republican - Chuck Hagel - Nebraska - Democrat - John Kerry - Massachusetts

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A TV movie entitled Faith Of My Fathers, based on McCain's memoir of his experiences as a POW, aired on Memorial Day, 2005 on A&E.

Related Topics:
Memorial Day - 2005 - A&E

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McCain has been treated for recurrent skin cancer, including melanoma. Some media sources have suggested that this may be linked to his heavy sun exposure in Vietnam.

Related Topics:
Skin cancer - Melanoma

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