John McCain

John Sidney McCain III was born on August 29, 1936. John was a lieutenant commander in the Vietnam war. McCain requested a combat assignment, and was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal flying A-4 Sky hawks. He began his combat duty when he was 30 years old in the summer of 1967. The Operation Rolling Thunder happened during the Vietnam War, McCain and his fellow pilots became very frustrated by micromanagement from Washington.

By then lieutenant commander, McCain was almost killed on July 29, 1967. McCain was near the center of the Forrestal fire. He escaped from his burning jet and was trying to help another pilot escape when a bomb exploded; McCain was struck in the legs and chest by fragments of the jet.The fire killed 134 sailors and took 24 hours to finally get it under control. On October 26, 1967, during his twenty third bombing mission a missle hit his jet and there was nothing else to do but eject. From him doing that he broke both of his arms and a leg. After that he was taken to a prison and was denied proper treatment. McCain was also often beaten by the North Vietnamese and was a prsoner for a long time with no aids or treatment. When McCain was released form prison and able to go back to his home years later, Senator John McCain continued his service and regaind his navel fight status. He retired from the Navy in 1981 and he got 5 navel honors. They are the Bronze Star,Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.