slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Just as the comments following many links suggest, there are mixed views/opinions on John McCain.

I have met only two POWs...one from 'Nam and one from Korea. One is a dear friend of mine. Colonel Jerry Curtis, USAF...the 'Nam POW, I know only briefly from conversations with him at local Veteran's gatherings. What became clear to me was the profound effect their times as POWs has had upon their lives. As a result, it is a choice of mine to believe that my two links/articles above best summarize and fortify my thoughts of John McCain.

As stated in my preface to the second article, I had been no fan of McCain's life or political career after his returning home. However, as flawed an individual as he may have been...being a 'Nam Vet myself, he still garners my respect for both his service and time as a POW.

McCain's life makes me think just a bit of Lewis Puller, Jr., son of 'Chesty' Puller of USMC fame. Both were sons of legendary fathers...in McCain's case, also a legendary grandfather. Even with the accompanying notoriety and benefits, it had to have been tough to follow in the shadows of such family elders. That is especially true (in McCain's case) with the added ordeal of becoming a POW. In Puller Jr.'s case, debilitating injuries suffered in the war and years of depression led to his eventual suicide. He did, however, author an award-winning book, 'Fortunate Son.' It was/is well worth reading.

It is worth noting that almost every POW I've heard from or read admits to a degree of eventually breaking down after capture and torture. Most Vets, I suspect, would/have questioned how well they might have held up under those or similar circumstances.

With minimum hesitation, I stand by my defense of the however-flawed 'Nam Vet/POW John McCain. I cannot come to say the same for his personal life and politics after his release and return home.

Have a good day, Jack.

P.S....If you noticed the byline on my first post's article: 'By William Payne, former Command Sergeant Major (1973-2014),' it does suggest Mr. Payne spent forty years in the service, to include the time John McCain & other POWs were released. Attaining the rank of Command Sgt. Major also lends to a pretty broad knowledge of the military and its history. Just sayin', my friend.

MR Mister Loc: Washington DC

Once again you lie and are full of sh*t.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Sorry for being so late with this. It may have some bearing on opinions of Command Sgt. Major Payne, whose commentary on John McCain I posted on page 5 of this very thread...

https://www.rallypoint.com/profiles/192436-csm-william-payne

Retired builder

John McCain rode into the Arizona political machine on the coattails of Barry Goldwater. In the beginning Goldwater supported McCain however as time went by that support dwindled. McCain using every opportunity to use his time in the Hanoi Hilton as a campaigning tool turned off a lot of long time conservative Arizona v**ers (myself being one of them). Barry didn't care for the fact that he bragged on this to get elected however to keep from creating dissent he didn't publicly let this be known, I know this because associates of mine worked on Goldwater's e******n team in the 70's. McCain proved who he had been all these years when he sabotaged the republican party during his final days on this earth. I never v**ed for McCain (even though I was a Republican) because of his egotistical self serving elitists behavior. McCain was well know to berate and belittle the people he considered to be below his elevated stature as a Senator. McCain showed his h**e for Trump in front of the whole world on every occasion even though his actions hurt important legislation that would have helped this country. He put this country's welfare second behind his egotistical self serving ambition to get back at Trump. McCain in my opinion was no hero or good example for my state or my country, in fact he was the exact opposite. I never h**ed McCain but by his actions and behavior I had absolutely no respect for him.

amadjuster Loc: Texas Panhandle

Here’s one.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Understood. Once again, from my last post...

"With minimum hesitation, I stand by my defense of the however-flawed Nam Vet/POW John McCain. I cannot come to say the same for his personal life and politics after his release and return home."

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

The t***h very well presented.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

That's a pretty nice outhouse to be putting his name on.

MR Mister Loc: Washington DC

Mc Cain was a Democrat to the core. He helped the left all he could. Today he is shoveling coal right next to his buddy Teddy.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, CO

There are so many conflicting reports regarding McCain it's often difficult to ferret out what is accurate and what is not. My dismal opinion of McCain is based solely on his TDS afflicted abject personal hatred of Trump that unfortunately skewered his actions of what was best for our country. He made his personal hatred of Trump first and foremost which was quite obvious to any thinking person, thus my belief he was simply a scumbag~

Retired builder

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, CO

And nowhere in the article did it say President Trump had anything to do with this, although many libbys are indicating he did. McCain was an avowed Trump h**er and I believe the feeling was mutual.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

No, it didn't. But, in response to some comments, the link pertains specifically to the thread topic. And, from the article..."Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Friday he'd asked his chief of staff to 'look into' the reported request from the White House to move the ship 'out of sight' during Trump's visit."

I agree with you on the mutual feeling McCain & Trump shared.

amadjuster Loc: Texas Panhandle

Still smells the same.