John Sidney McCain III (1936 - 2018)

Ancestors

Preceded by Barry Goldwater

John McCain US Senator (Class 3) from Arizona 1987—2018

Succeeded by John Kyl

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Family 1.2 Military Service 1.3 Politician 1.3.1 Honors 1.4 Death and Burial 2 Sources

Biography

Senator John McCain was a respected Vietnam War Veteran and Prisoner of War, as well as United States Senator and Presidential Candidate.^{[1] [2]}

Family

John Sidney McCain III was born August 29th, 1936 at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone of Panama to Admiral John Sidney McCain Jr. and Roberta Wright. ^[3] His father was stationed there at the time.

John attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia where he was a member of the wrestling and football teams. He graduated from there in 1954. ^[2] He then attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.^[2]

John first married on July 3, 1965 to Carol Shepp, a model from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ^[2] He adopted her two young sons from a previous relationship, Douglas and Andrew. ^[2] Together they had one daughter, Sidney McCain. ^[2] John and Carol were separated for a long time, mainly due to his military service and imprisonment as a POW in Vietnam, although they did attempt a reconciliation after his return to the USA in 1973. Carol had in the meantime been seriously injured in an automobile accident in 1969 in the USA.^[4]

In 1979, John McCain began dating Cindy Lou Hensley, a teacher from Phoenix, Arizona, and heiress to a fortune founded on a major brewing company. As that relationship became serious, he asked Carol for a divorce. Remaining on good terms, they eventually agreed to an uncontested divorce that became effective in April 1980. ^{[2] [4]}

John married second Cindy on May 17, 1980, in Phoenix, Arizona, with US Senators William Cohen and Gary Hart attending as groomsmen. ^[2] Together they had two sons, John McCain, IV and James McCain, and a daughter, Meghan McCain. ^[2] They also adopted a daughter, Bridget, from a Bangladesh orphanage. ^[2]

Military Service

John McCain was commissioned on the same date he graduated from the United States Naval Academy, on June 4th, 1958. Upon receiving his commission in the United States Navy, John completed flight training and was a designated Naval Aviator in May 1960. He first trained in the A-1 Skyraider and joined Attack Squadron 65, where he served until October 1963. The Cuban Missile Crisis took place during this time and McCain was assigned alert duty. ^[4]

From November 1963 until October 1966, John was a Flight Instructor. As a Lieutenant Commander in October 1966, he transitioned into the A-4 Skyhawk with Attack Squadron 44 out of Cecil Field in Florida until April 1967. ^[4]

John was a prisoner of War from 26 October 1967 to 14 March 1973.^{[5] [2]} On 26 October 1967, during the Vietnam War, while serving with Attack Squadron 163 on board the USS Oriskany (CVA-34), John launched in his Skyhawk attack aircraft as part of a three aircraft strike group whose mission was against the Hanoi Thermal Power Plant. ^{[citation needed]} He took a direct hit from the considerable resistance they were receiving from the ground in the form of surface-to-air missiles. He ejected as his aircraft burst into flames and landed in a lake very near the center of Hanoi.

John was immediately captured and suffered multiple injuries, including three breaks in one of his arms, a break in the other arm, and a broken leg. ^[2] One of his captors bayoneted him and slammed a rifle butt into his shoulder. John was in very bad physical condition when he taken to the notorious Hanoi Hilton (Hỏa Lò Prison), according to Medal of Honor recipient and cell mate Bud Day and many of the other prisoners who fought to keep him alive. The North Vietnamese didn't really expect him to live, but when they found out about his father's position (John Jr was serving as the Admiral of the fleet in the Pacific Ocean) they gave him some minimal medical treatment and then let other POWs take care of him in hopes he would make propaganda statements for them. Those POWs who cared for him say that they really didn't expect him to live either. He worked diligently to regain his strength and succeeded. Later in the war, fellow POW Michael Scott Kerr would circumnavigate their shared room everyday in an exercise regimen to try to gain strength and endurance in order to return to active duty. John returned during Operation Homecoming on 14 March 1973. ^[2]

He was flown from Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi, North Vietnam at 1455 hours and arrived at Clark Air Base, Philippines at 1715 hours. His C-141 was tail number 40641.

John retired from the United States Navy on April 1st, 1981 as a Captain. ^[4]

Politician

John went from serving his country in the military to serving his country as a public servant, and was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Arizona's 1st District, serving from January 1983 until January 1987.^[2] In January 1987 he ran for and was elected to hold a seat as one of Arizona's Senators. ^[2] He served as a Senator from Arizona until his death in 2018. ^[2]

John also ran for president on the Republican ticket twice, but did not succeed in those endeavors. ^[2]

Honors

Silver Star Citation ... For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 27 October to 8 December 1967. His captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.

1. Silver Star Medal.
2. Legion of Merit with 1 Bronze Star and V Device.
3. Bronze Star Medal.
4. Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Bronze Stars and V Device.
5. Purple Heart with 1 Bronze Star.
6. Meritorious Service Medal.
7. Air Medal with Bronze Star and a 2.
8. Navy Commendation Medal with Bronze Star and V Device.
9. Navy Combat Action Ribbon.

The full ribbon set is available here.

Death and Burial

After a long battle with brain cancer (glioblastoma), Senator John McCain died on 25 Aug 2018 at his family ranch in Cornville, close to Sedona, Arizona, USA. ^{[1] [2]} He was surrounded by his family, including his wife Cindy.^[1] He was a few days short of 82 years old and had served his country in one way or another for over sixty years. ^[1] He was buried on 3 September with full honors including a Missing Man Flyover and a 21 Gun Salute at his alma mater, the Naval Academy, Annapolis, in the Category: United States Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland according to his wishes. At least 20 of his fellow Prisoners of War attended the ceremony.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} John McCain official senatorial page, archived 2 December 2018. This page includes John's farewell letter to his constituents and the nation.
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17} McFadden, Robert D, "John McCain, War Hero, Senator, Presidential Contender, Dies at 81", New York Times online, nytimes.com, 25 Aug 2018
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K76J-BP9 : accessed 27 Aug 2018), John Mccain in household of John Mccain, res: Ward#3, Annapolis, Election District #6, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA; citing ed#2-38, sheet#17A, line#6, family#395, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA#T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census 1790-2007, RG#29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll#1502.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Wikipedia: John McCain
5. ↑ Nam-POW List

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q10390, en:Wikipedia
• "War Stories," Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (season#3, episode#6). PBS 09 Feb 2016.
• Man of the People: The Life of John McCain, by Paul Alexander
• Roberts, Gary. "On the Ancestry, Royal Descent, and English and American Notable Kin of Senator John Sidney McCain IV", New England Historic Genealogical Society (01 Apr 2008). Retrieved 19 May 2008.
• Wyatt, Barbara Powers. We Came Home. Toluca Lake, CA: P.O.W. Publications, 1977.
• Feinberg, Barbara. John McCain: Serving His Country, 18 (Millbrook Press 2000) ISBN 0-7613-1974-3.
• Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons v1 Naval Historical Center. Retrieved May 19, 2008.
• Tributes
• Ruston Daily Leader, Ruston, Louisiana on 23 Dec 1970, page 8 entitled: List of U.S. Prisoners in North Vietnam. They are broken down by state of record (not birth). John is in the Florida section in Orange Park.
• Iorfida, Chris, "John McCain, war hero and former U.S. presidential candidate, dead at 81" CBC News, 25 Aug 2018.
• Musil, Steven, "John McCain, senator and war hero, dies at 81." C|Net News, August 25, 2018.
• NAM POW Network, received only by 4th Allied POWs
• Find A Grave: Memorial #192563826

Memories: 3