And I say this as a retired Airman who served for 22 years...
When you're on a combat flying mission, you're no less a warrior than a man on the ground with a rifle, a cannon, a missile in the tube or a sailor on deck, plunging into harm's way.
When you are a flyer/pilot/aviator/air crewmen over enemy territory, performing your mission of bombing, strafing, dogfighting, reconnaissance, whatever, you are in harm's way and planes that get shot or take flak can break, become non-function and crash. You have two choices, go down with the wreck, hoping you can get it operational again or “land” it, or you can bail out. The first is very likely to get you killed and the second is just normally likely to get you killed.
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand were covered with crashed US aircraft and most crews who crashed died. The majority that is. Only a few are “lucky” to survive, and many are severely injured.
So it was with McCain. The missile that hit his plane also hurt him, he bailed and was further injured on bailing and landing. Multiple broken bones, lacerations and trauma. This happened to him because he was fighting for his country. Say what you will about his foolishness now, but that in itself was heroic.
Of course he was captured, denied medical attention by a horrible enemy, tortured, was prisoner of war for many years, etc., etc., but to me what made him a hero was not being captured or being a prisoner, but willing to get in a rocket with wings and fly around while people tried to actively kill you, and, as it turned out, nearly did, with terrible, painful injuries he's still suffering from today.
I wish he'd resign his seat in the Senate, though. He's worse than useless there.
I knew some POWs and they “ disliked” McCain
They never would say what he did to earn their contempt - they were too honorable for that,
but you know how it is when one if your fellow soldiers is a rat or worse and everyone knows but the guy still gets his medals along with everyone else
What went on in Vietnam, stayed in Vietnam
And thank you for your service!
I have read elsewhere that he crashed 4 planes before the one that got him captured. Is that true?
Does the navy routinely put someone back in the cockpit if they keep crashing their planes?
Do you know about the problems he caused on the Forrestal? (sp), and why he was immediately transferred off that ship?
Why aren’t more of his fellow captured cell mates speaking up for him?
Could it be his service was somewhat less than “heroic”?
Being an Airman, you should know about ejection seats. Military fighter pilots are trained in their use and they have saved many lives. When you eject, you are trained to keep your knees together and your elbows in. Songbird did not. 'Course, he would have failed flight school except for his Admiral papa. That may explain his injuries, but but I'd no excuse for the injuries he has inflicted on his family, fellow POWs, and our country since.
” but to me what made him a hero was not being captured or being a prisoner, but willing to get in a rocket with wings and fly around while people tried to actively kill you”
Are all military pilots then heroes?
Begs the question, what is a military hero? I respect and admire all members of the military, but only a small percentage I see as heroes.
Heroes to me save others lives, or die doing so, or lose limbs doing so; or lead troops to great victories.
I respect McCains military service. To me he is a war survivor, as were many. He happened to go into politics.