Posted on 01/15/2006 6:58:21 AM PST by Clear Rivers
Photo: GERRY PATE More than 100 people march down St. John Street toward Barnet Park Saturday morning during the "Walk As One" rally in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. that was sponsored by the city of Spartanburg. Sen. John McCain has been invited to attend MLK festivities on Monday.
POW eager to meet McCain JANET S. SPENCER, Staff Writer Published January 15, 2006
Ret. Lt. Col. Ted Ballard lived in a North Vietnamese prisoner of war cell next to Sen. John McCain for two years. On Monday, McCain, a Republican who served as a Navy captain, will be in Ballard's hometown. McCain has been invited to the Spartanburg County Republican Party's annual banquet and the community's celebration of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Ballard is an Air Force veteran, former ROTC teacher and graduate of Spartanburg High School. McCain is a potential presidential candidate. They still haven't met. But their close living quarters almost 35 years ago -- up to 40 men in each cell -- promoted a common bond. Prisoners in each cell communicated what was going on in the camps. They kept tabs on each other's condition and relayed messages for senior commanders. "Of course, it was all covert," Ballard said. Ballard said he keeps up with McCain's career and describes him as a valiant warrior. "He was one of the strongest and toughest resisters in the camp," Ballard said. "He's a conservative. I am, also -- most military are. He has my support," he said. Ballard and McCain resisted the enemy's attempt to force them to reveal military information. In his writings, "Christmases in the Dungeons of North Vietnam," Ballard describes the torture, pain, sadness and devotion to God and his country and praying for POWs who were still suffering from wounds. In 1969, the first 10 months were the worst that he spent in captivity. An escape effort failed, causing the Vietnamese to react with extreme brutality.
By December, the POWs made Christmas cards for men in other areas and "air-mailed" them. They tied rocks to the paper and threw them from one courtyard to the other, he wrote.
Ballard remained a prisoner for 6½ years. McCain was released after 5½ years. After returning to Spartanburg in the 1970s, Ballard taught ROTC at Gaffney High School from 1975 to 1997. He remains in touch with fellow POWs via the Internet. "There are about 350 of us. We are able to pretty much keep up with each other and know where each is," he said. Former students recall Ballard's stories of life as a prisoner of war. Dave Womick of Cowpens recalls days as a student at Gaffney High School when Ballard would share his experiences during assemblies. "I always thought of him as an honorable man. I found his stories to be inspirational," Womick said. Womick's sister, Carolyn Pack, was a student of Ballard's. She went on to serve six years in the National Guard as a paralegal and attained the rank of Spec. 5.
"He was one of my favorite teachers. He told us how his plane was shot down, and he woke up with the enemy stabbing at him with a bayonet. How they tried to force him to reveal secrets. As a teacher, he seemed almost unscathed and so energetic to share what the prisoners endured," Pack said.
Janet Spencer can be reached at 562-7222 or janet.spencer@shj.com
I've heard the stories that McCain got special treatment when he was a POW, but Ballard's account makes me doubt the stories.
I don't like McCain and shudder to think of the possibility of him being POTUS, but the question of whether or not he did anything dishonorable while a POW, in my mind, is settled unless and until some compelling proof is presented.
I've heard the stories that McCain got special treatment when he was a POW, but Ballard's account makes me doubt the stories.
I don't like McCain and shudder to think of the possibility of him being POTUS, but the question of whether or not he did anything dishonorable while a POW, in my mind, is settled unless and until some compelling proof is presented.
You'll note from the article that Ballard never met McCainiac, not even once while in the 'Hanoi Hilton'. And the thing is about the 'McCain stories' are that they are from his own mouth. In one of his first books he admitted giving up info on his squadron, ship, fleet strength, location, etc - all to get special medical treatment. In WWII that was at the least called collaboration with the enemy - or treason.
And I'm sorry but just because he was a POW doesn't make him a 'war hero' as John McCain never did anything heroic. In fact he was a complete screw up and if his daddy wasn't an Admiral, and his grand daddy an Admiral too, he would have been Court Marshaled and thrown out of the Navy on his ass.
My John McCain (up close and personal) story, from the 2000 South Carolina Primary.
Greenville SC - the 2000 Presidential primary - John McCain had just beaten ‘W’ in the NH primary and the “Straight Talk Express” rolled into South Carolina.
I was a McCain supporter - positive that he was the real deal.
I drove to a McCain speech and public appearance. It was a day I will never forget as long as I live.
That day I witnessed John McCain behave unlike any appearance I had ever seen on TV - the man was unhinged.
After a 15 minute canned speech - he decided to address his competition in the primary - George W. Bush. He did so by beginning with, “I am Luke Skywalker, and my opponents are members of the Empire. Together we will form the rebellion and defeat Darth Vadar”. He yelled this - first pumping - his voice full of anger - his face - beet red - and his eyes - well - they were scary.
The crowd instantly went from supportive - to bewildered.
He obviously didn’t pick up on the mood change - because he went on for another 5 minutes - ranting and raving about how everyone was lying about his record - his views - and he, “wasn’t going to take it any more” (remember the movie Network).
It was surreal.
When he finished - and with the prodding of an aid - he left the stage, while we in the crowd just stood there - stunned - and honestly - completely confused.
I asked a woman next to me: “what the hell just happened?” She answered: “that man is freaking nuts!”
I came home - walked in the house - sat on the couch and just looked at the wall. I suddenly realized - the man pushed on television - was not the man at all.
I have told this story many times - to many people - and I have heard the same story told back to me by others who have seen similar John McCain episodes.
I am not given to criticize anyone lightly ladies and gentlemen.
I am sure John McCain is a good man - but listen to me - and please believe me.
JOHN MCCAIN is NOT FIT TO LEAD THIS NATION.
John McCain is unstable. John McCain is freaking nuts!
Navy Captain? I don't think so.
A Navy Captain is an O-6 and is equivalent to a full Colonel in the other services. His Navy rank of Lieutenant is O-3 and equivalent to the rank of Captain in the other services.
There will be no President McCain in our future.
Will Jane Fonda be attending?
Just wondering.
The "Death Star" speech was the beginning of the end for McCain in Presidential politics.
By his words shall you know him.
You must have missed the part of the story where Ballard says he never met McCain. The article also states McCain was released a year before Ballard. Why was that?
Several years ago when I lived in Tucson I listened to McCain at many T&T dinners tell everyone how much of a hero he was. I always figured if he had to talk about it that much it was probably hype.
My mistake. I saw him with LT bars on a History Channel documentary and didn't catch his promotion to LCDR before his capture. His automatic promotion to CDR in captivity and his retirement promotion to CAPT would work. Sorry.
Hey,
Since you run the SC ping list. I just wanted to let you know tomorrow the Naval Academy Gospel Choir will be at Wren High School in piedmont.
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