Navy releases McCain's military record

Whether or not one is a McCain supporter, it is impossible to ignore or be unimpressed with his distinguished military service to our country.

How does his boldness and determination under fire and his grace and strength as a POW translate into his ability to lead the country, in your opinion? Positively? Negatively? (And I direct that to everyone, not just the OP.)

 

The one portion of his service I applaud was not accepting his early release from his captors. That took a real "soldier" and true american to do. As for the rest of his military career, you have to show me some proof he even took it seriously. McCain was more of a "cowboy" using a jet as his modern day horse and thumbed his nose at everything the military stood for.

How many of you know how McCain got in the Naval Academy. Yes he had the grades from High School but normally it takes a lot more than good grades to get in the Naval academy. McCain was a real rebel and screw off as a young man and I bet even he now regrets his early attitude.

How's this for a presidential headline? http://www.dailypaul.com/node/32504

McCain finished 894th out of 899 at the Naval Academy and lost five jets!

Now keep in mind McCain is naturally brilliant so this means he put forth no effort at all and barely made it through the academy. If it were not for one of his classmates taking demerits on his behalf he would have been kicked out the school. I guess this does put him in the same catagory as Bush who was about the same in school.

Don't need to believe me, how about words from a guy who knew him?

http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859_1,00.html

As for his medals...

Does this qualify him for president?

 

It clearly shows a loyalty to America that Anti-Americans like Obama does not hold to. Thanks for this reminder. I may just change a view of him based on this alone.

 

Instead of making this another Obama bashing thread, why not let McCain stand or fall on his own merits?

 

My comment doesnt constitute making this an Obama bashing thread. If you dont like the comment to bad.

 

Did Mc'Cain not deserve any or all of his medals ?
Was he a war hero, or was he not ?
Personally, I don't think anyone should really care much if he was a "rebel" or if he got through the academy despite low grades because of his father and grandfather.
The academy is theory.
Vietnam and the Hanoi Hilton is practice.
What matters is when he got out of "theory" and into "practice" he stood tall and that wasn't because of grades, his father, or his grandfather.
That was John Mc'Cain, and anybody, black or white, like that, should make it through the highest office of this nation with the same honor and dignity that sustained him through five years of Hanoi Hilton.

 

And it is sad that needs explanation.:BangHead:

 

Well, it shows he's will to go all the way for America, giving sacrifically.

Obama would never put himself in a situation where he could possibly become a pow. America isn't that important to him.

 

The Navy will not release ALL of McCain's record due to a FOIA request.

McCain has to authorize it, if he hasn't already.

 

Carpro, Do you have knowledge of/think there's anything unreleased at this point that he might not want public? I ask that because of what LeBuick posted about him from that article/opinion piece from military.com.


And I never cease to be amazed at all the different stuff folks here on the BB present for my reading pleasure. I don't know how y'all come across some of this stuff, but it's interesting and informative to get so many differing viewpoints on so many different topics; McCain's military service is obviously one of them. LeBuick, it is interesting that a fellow POW would NOT want McCain as his Commander-in-Chief, but I note in reading his commentary, that his reasons are based more on their political ideology differences than on McCain's military career (which is, of course, perfectly fine). He went so far as to say that he views McCain as being "far right" politically and is therefore worried about Supreme Court appointees. That actually makes me think maybe I SHOULD vote for him in this election, and I have never liked McCain.

Butler has some very valid points for considering NOT to vote for McCain though (beyond political ideology), based on his personal observation of the man: McCain's "quick and explosive temper"; his age and how his health is impacted by having been a POW, which could potentially affect his ability to serve four years; his apparent life-long history of being a maverick and bucking the system (which can obviously be viewed as a negative OR positive).

Butler pointed out some basic truths about McCain's military career with which I agree completely....McCain was not the "only" POW or decorated war-hero from that time. I don't blame Butler for wanting to spread the love around for the OTHER guys; however, I don't think that fact detracts one iota from what McCain himself did. Implying that it DOES actually detracts from the other guys, too. And, in fact, Butler's comment here: I saw heroism every day there. And we motivated each other to endure and succeed far beyond what any of us thought we had in ourselves. Succeeding as a POW is a group sport, not an individual one. We all supported and encouraged each other to survive and succeed. John knows that. He was not an individual POW hero. He was a POW who surmounted the odds with the help of many comrades, as all of us did. --this comment actually again makes me think more highly of McCain than I did, as it reminds me of something important....McCain knows on the most basic and important levels how to be a leader, a maverick, AND a "team player", based on real life experience that I can only imagine. NEITHER Democratic candidate has that kind of experience...and that LACK of experience is a primary reason that I cannot support Obama. Unlike Butler, I think POW status DOES help McCain's candidacy. Just MHO.

 

FUNNY? No mention of the U.S.S. Forestal incident in which McCain(son of cain)
did a wet start,(pooling jet fuel)prior to ignition,that resulted in a fire and explosion that killed many of his "shipmates".The fire caused a missle to explode ......
but surprise,surprise,surprise there is not a word said about it!
"a distinguished"military record?tell that to the families of those that his hot dogging killed.

 

Perhaps this incident is listed in any stuff that has not been released yet? You're right--never heard about it til now. That is sad. And obvious evidence of the "maverick" attitude that I've never cared for. *sigh* I still may end up without a horse to bet on in this race.

 

You have such a dislike for Obama, you don't even recognize when you are bashing him. :laugh: Way to go Rev!

 

Just how could you possibly know this? <personal attack deleted - LE>

 

Thank you LeBuck & Ron Paul.
I've decided to support John McCain as president.
I'm a one-trick-pony.
I want a president who knows:

When the USofA authorizes torture,
the USofA is NOT WORTH DEFENDING.

-

 

Mere opinion, misguided as it is, stated as fact doesn't make it so.

 

...and more slanderous charges of "hate" by you. Every time you lie about a BB member you are going to be reported.

Moderator Note: And it was. Personal attacks, innuendoes are not permitted and are against the BB rules which you agreed to follow when you joined. LE

 

1. Deserve in this case is a relative term. All of the POW's received medals just for enduring time as a POW. I applaud each of them for they all endured their own personal war while held captive. Perhaps we should have a POW medal.? We give them plates in our state. Having said that I can better answer your question if you answer this, does Jessica Lynch deserve medals? She was a POW. How about George F. Fryett? He was the first POW in Vietnam.

2. Hero... Anyone whose been in combat knows no soldier is fighting for their country, apple pie or any of the patriotic things being discussed here. They fight for the soldier next to them. I consider a hero as one who knowingly and without regard to their personal safety put's themself in mortal danger for others. This is far beyond normal combat, this is the guy who leaps on the grenade to save his platoon. The medic who runs in to the fighting to drag back a wounded comrade. How about the soldier who commits suicide to keep from being captured because of the secrets he has in his head? Calling McCain a hero is an insult to all the true hero's, espacially those who paid the ultimate cost. I recently saw a website with plenty of vet's who feel the same.

EDIT... Found it

You want to see a POW Hero, read up on John Stocksdale. He all but mortally injured himself to keep from being used as propaganda. He kept the hopes of all the POW's up and lead by example. He sent secret communications back to the military via letters to his wife.

3. The reason I mention rebel is to say 1) if he were average Joe who started from average american home (like say single parent average citizen home) we wouldn't be having this discussion. He wouldn't be where he is. He is not there because he earned nothing. He is there because of whose he is. 2) It shows the kind of effort he gives toward the cause. He was brilliant enough to be number 1 in his class yet he barely passed.

Plenty of men lasted longer than McCain as a prison in the Hanoi Hilton, they are not getting my vote either. I somehow don't see how one qualifies you for the other. If it does, then let's do a write in for Jessica Lynch.

Now what I really see here is a double standard. Church is theory as much as the academy is theory. Obama's theory makes all the difference in the world yet for McCain you say, "The academy is theory". Have you seen Obama display in practice any of the theory taught in His Church? Not his wife, Obama. If not then why do you have this double standard?

 

Now there's a statment I can respect, solid and contains good substance... :thumbs: