Posted on 08/28/2008 2:46:46 PM PDT by jessduntno
John McCain's Imprisonment in Vietnam: A True Tale of Heroism
James Ray
Have you ever heard the whole account of John McCain's imprisonment during the Vietnam War? Until recently, I was only aware of the general story; I didn't know the details. But I recently read a couple of pieces on McCain's capture, imprisonment and torture by the North Vietnamese, and it blew me away. Not since Ernest Shackleton's cursed journey to the South Pole have I heard a tale of such courage, mental toughness and physical endurance.
The Young John McCain
The Crash and Capture In October of 1967, McCain was flying a mission over Hanoi in his A-4 Skyhawk plane, when his craft was hit with enemy fire. With his plane going down in flames, McCain ejected his seat and his body from the cockpit of plane, but in the process he broke both of his arms and one leg. He also suffered a severe concussion, which must have made it even harder for him to find and pull his chute. But he did. With two broken arms and cracked noggin, falling towards the North Vietnamese soldiers who had just shot his airplane out from under him, this guy somehow had the wherewithal to pull his cute and keep himself alive.
He landed hard in a pond in downtown Hanoi and was immediately set upon by North Vietnamese soldiers. One bayoneted McCain in the groin. Another broke his shoulder with the butt of a rifle. The attack also further compounded his leg fracture; his tibia was now sticking out of his leg at a ninety-degree angle.
His broken body was thown into back of a jeep, and McCain was taken to the Hoa Lo prison, also kown as "The Hanoi Hilton." From all of the accounts of American POWs who were trapped in this place, it sounds like the Hilton was the worst, shittiest prison on earth.
Shortly after being brought in, a doctor who was either incompetent or simply cruel set two of McCain's fractures without anaesthesia and then refused to set the other two. McCain was then beaten and tortured for several days. Among other horrors that he endured, his arms were bound together behind hi back and he was lifted off the ground in medieval torture style. After more than anyone could possibly be expected to endure, McCain was put into a prison cell and left there, for a long time.
The Offer To Be Set Free Over the months, his weight dropped to about 100 pounds. Other POWs thought he would die for sure. But he didn't. McCain somehow recovered. His bones healed, although he would forever be limited in his movement, and he gained back his strength.
Then, in 1968, he was called into the prison commandant's office and offered his release.
It seemed that McCain's father, Admiral John McCain, Sr., had been named head of all all navy forces in the Pacific. The North Vietnamese thought it would be a smart public relations move to release the admiral's son. But the younger McCain refused. He cited a rule from the military's code of conduct that said that prisoners of war were to be released in the order they were captured and imprisoned. McCain said it was simply unfair for him to get out when another guy who'd been there for years would have to stay. He refused to be released.
Prison guards tried to persuade the young pilot by breaking two of his ribs, knocking out his teeth and re-breaking one of his arms. He still refused to leave.
After all that punishment and torture and psychological abuse, I'd imagine that most men would be able to rationalize breaking that rule, just this once. But not McCain. He stayed.
And he spent the next four years of his life at the Hanoi Hilton, much of it in a small solitary confinement cell called the "punishment room."
He was finally released on March 14, 1972, more than five years after his capture. To this day, he remains physically limited by the injuries he sustained in prison.
Conclusion I don't know if John McCain will win the election, or if he can be a good president. I certainly don't know if he can get us out of the many messes created by our current presidential administration. I don't even think that I am going to vote for him.
But if he does become president, I will find comfort in having a leader with a heart that is 100 times bigger than his predecessor, a devotion to his country and to his military duty that is second to none, and the physical and mental toughness of an fing bull.
Yeah, I wonder if Obama will tell us about his military service record and his love for our military tonight...????
Good capsule version for ANTONE to read who still doesn’t know the story - which is wayyyyyyyyyyyy too many people at this point. I sent this to a friend last night and he actually called me and said that he had heard references to the fact he was a POW, but not quite so much detail.
Be careful. The McCain Deranged will be here soon. Ye shall be flamed.
According to some at this forum, McCain sold out his country for easy treatment, that he was treated well because his father was an Admiral.
Interesting.
The writer admits that he isn’t sure that he’ll vote for McCain, but encourages others to do so because of his ‘big heart’.
From this particular story, there is plenty of room for speculation about McCain’s time in captivity. Some who were there claim that he was honorable, others say differently.
First they thought that he was dying, then he made a surprising recovery. I’m here to tell you that without medical intervention and proper nutrition, dying people do not suddenly (or even slowly) get better. They get worse and die.
Then four years in solitary. Was he? Who knows?
I am just saying that for the most part, it’s a ‘he said, she said’ situation. His account acquits him while other’s reports condemn him. Who to believe?
I don’t know what when on there and damn few other do either and what I am about to say is not to condemn him for breaking IF he did break. Being subjected to torture can make a man do things that he would not ordinarily do. He knows that better than most and that’s why he opposes the use of torture now.
Since I don’t know what happened there then, my opposition to him is based on the damage that he’s done since then, the policies that he advances, and the potential for great harm if he sits in the Oval Office.
I know Obama is a much worse man than McCain. I don’t know that he won’t be more effective in undermining and destroying our liberty.
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the Democrats start saying that McCain served time in jail for setting off bombs.
The most disgraceful comment I’ve heard so far this campaign season came from Gen. Wesley Clarke. He said in effect that John McCain was “riding” in a plane and was shot down. Clark made it sound like he went to the Air Boss and asked for a round-trip ticket to Haiphong harbor. The stewardess showed him to his seat and he buckled up. In other words, Clark said that McCain was merely a passenger on a flight that crashed.
I’ve read that he was somehow responsible, but I don’t think that it was deliberate. He wasn’t charged or convicted. Maybe because he wasn’t involved or maybe because it was an accident or maybe because of the clout of his father.
My point in the my original post was that just because some of us do not share your admiration for McCain or excited about the prospects of him being elected doesn’t mean that we are deranged. There is room for doubt and question.
I do know this. It takes the likes of Obama to make him look good to a lot of people.
I do know this: The McCain deranged are unable to differentiate between a young warrior and an old senator.
Slam his politics all you wish for I will likely agree. Slime the young Naval Aviator who risked all in defense of his country and I will pound you into the dirt.
His POW esperience is irrelevant to becoming POTUS. His treatement of the POW families and his votes - of lack of - on veterans’ issues is a more important criteria. Palin is a far better choice for POTUS than McCain.
So there are no bad people in uniform? No cowards, traitors, or criminals? All is absolved because of the uniform?
Interesting perspective, if that’s what you are claiming. Do your best. Pound away.
Where in post #12 do you see McCain mentioned, let alone called anything?
I asked a general question and rather than answer, you take (or fake) umbrage and accuse me of saying things that I didn’t say.
Patriotism is the last bastion of the scoundrel.
I would suggest that you re-read (or read for the first time) what I said in post #5.
It seems that it’s more fun for you to ignore what’s written.
I am an admirer of the bravery of young John McCain.
I toss that read meat comment out now and then. The McCain Deranged cannot resist.
LOL
You ignore again what is written, jump to baseless conclusions, and declare yourself the victor.
You are laughable.
I only ask because after several posts you have yet to make a direct accusation of malfeasance or dishonor on the part of young John McCain.
You stick to catty innuendo; the kind of shrew like behavior learned by many babes at a young age.
I have made no accusations regarding McCain’s time in prison because neither I, nor anyone else, KNOW what happened while held captive.
I made that very clear in my first post.
I also made clear that my opposition to him was based on his performance in the Senate.
Are you illiterate? I ask only because you don’t seem to be capable of reading and understanding the plain words in my posts.
And I just assumed that you were an old broad with years of experience of being catty. Am I wrong? LOL
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