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Those who were POWs like McCain are war heroes

Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 05:23:34 am MST

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To the Editor:

The issue of whether or not Sen. John McCain is a war hero is beginning to sound a lot like the “swift-boating” that was done to Sen. John Kerry when he ran for president. Kerry’s war record became a target of his detractors, all because they didn’t approve of him personally or politically.

Some of your readers have dismissed McCain’s war record by stating: “All he did was get shot down and captured. He’s no hero; Audie Murphy was a hero. McCain was just a survivor.”

I don’t really fault those who would proclaim that McCain is no “war hero.” Few Americans today have a grasp of the horrors our prisoners of war endured at the hands of the People’s Army of Vietnam. They have no idea of the courage it took to refuse to sign a war crimes confession, knowing full well the consequences of that defiance would be weeks and months of brutal beatings, starvation, and torture.

A well-documented fact of McCain’s 5 1/2 years of captivity, when he was seriously ill due to prolonged dysentery and untreated multiple injuries, is that he refused an early release to return home to his wife and family. The son of a high-ranking admiral, John realized that this gesture on the part of his captors was a propaganda ploy. John also believed that to accept that offer would dishonor his family, his fellow POWs and the Military Code of Conduct, which obliged our men held captive to refuse release before those captured earlier than them had been released. By refusing to accept the early release, McCain had frustrated his captors. His defiance caused him to suffer the consequences of more brutal beatings, rope torture and prolonged solitary confinement.

I have no doubt that if you asked John McCain directly, he would likely state, “I’m no hero. I was just doing what my family and my country expected of me.” I maintain that all of our POWs are war heroes. To deny them that honor denigrates the years of sustained courage and fortitude they demonstrated while held captive.

James P. Coan

Sierra Vista

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Billy Hill wrote on May 11, 2008 10:22 AM:

" Passerby "Those who were POWs like McCain are War Heroes" seems plain enough to me" They have OYM for the other crap.
Try to focus. McCain gets my respect for his service but not my vote because of his politics.

"

sierravistan wrote on May 9, 2008 3:26 PM:

" "Passerby" once gain you assume something and once again you know not what you speak of.you could not be more incorrect about my politics. What is it with you peole who do NOT make any contribution to the dialog, yet constantly denigrate the people who are putting thier ideas and thoughts out there...are you just soooo jealouse that other have ideas and you have none? this forum does not need you either as you contribute NOTHING at al except to put others down for speaking their mind. "

Passerby wrote on May 9, 2008 5:39 AM:

" Hey, Billy Hill, wise up. The thread went from McCain --> Obama --> Clinton. It's a presidential election year--get it? If you're inclined to assign yourself roles among folks, go to acting school, O.K.? The forum doesn't need your esteemed service as moderator. "

Billy Hill wrote on May 8, 2008 6:59 PM:

" I thought this thread was about John McCains service, try to focus "

Passerby wrote on May 8, 2008 11:32 AM:

" Sierravistan, you didn't have to spend all those words to reveal yourself what we already well knew--that you're a died-in-the-wool Clintonista who spent the 8 years since he thankfully left office, whining at the ego-maniac's absence, ignoring his life of amorality, and blindly bashing his successor, just like the power brokers told you to. "

sierravistan wrote on May 8, 2008 6:28 AM:

" yes, agreed, he is a war hero, but that being said, none of them are a good choice for president. Hoewever, once again being forced for the lesser of all evils, who will do the country the least damage, I will go with a known of Clinton rather than the flip-flop McAmensty or senator Obama whose majority of votes consisted of "present" which is to say neither yes or no. "

Skeptical wrote on May 8, 2008 4:19 AM:

" Omigod! I didn't realize that lots of you good folks think the choice is either McCain or Obama. Please do not identify me with B.O., the Democrats' unfortunate PC choice for the highest office in the land. I'm absolutely appalled at how the electorate has fallen for the man you describe, who also is a bald-faced hypocrite cynically playing the age-old political tune of 'change'--while revealing himself to be nothing more than another cheap political opportunist. If someone were to shove me into a voting booth under threat of harm, McCain would clearly my choice, given only those two. "

To Skeptical wrote on May 7, 2008 8:44 PM:

" And Obama's incomplete term as a senator and his yuppy racist lifestyle make him the best candidate for presidency? "

Cheyenne wrote on May 7, 2008 7:08 PM:

" McCains military career is distinguished, including his 5 1/2 years as a POW. His politics are not what we need. We dont need Hillary's or Obama's either. "

OK wrote on May 7, 2008 7:24 AM:

" Lets call him a war hero, and also call him what he is now, a flip-floping, Bush supporter. "

Billy Hill wrote on May 7, 2008 6:47 AM:

" McCains refusal to be repatriated early because his father was an Admiral was what distinguished him over the others in his position. I may detest him as a politician but I will not speak badly about his or any other veterans service. We didn't choose our assignments or missions. "

Skeptical wrote on May 7, 2008 6:23 AM:

" Well said, but does McCain's 5 1/2 years of incarceration as a POW automatically make him the best candidate for presidency? "