John McCain’s capture and imprisonment began on October 26, 1967. He was flying his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam, when his A-4E Skyhawk was shot down by a missile over Hanoi.[36][37][38][39] McCain fractured both arms and a leg,[40] and then nearly drowned when he parachuted into Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi.[36] After he regained consciousness, a mob attacked him,[41] crushed his shoulder with a rifle butt, and bayoneted him; he was then transported to Hanoi’s main Hoa Loa Prison, nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton”.[41][42]
<snip>
*
In August of 1968, a program of severe torture began on McCain, at the same time as he was suffering from dysentery,[41][36] and McCain made an anti-American propaganda “confession”.[36] He has always felt that his statement was dishonorable,[48] but as he would later write, “I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine.”[41] His injuries left him permanently incapable of raising his arms above his head.[49] He subsequently received two to three beatings per week because of his continued refusal to sign additional statements*
I cannot begin to imagine the mental toughness and self-discipline required to perform as he did while under captivity.
I read somewhere that, when pressed to give up his fellow solder’s names, he named the current Green Bay Packers offensive line. I thought that was pretty neat.
MAN, I LOVED the '85 Bears! Mike Ditka coaching, Jim McMahon, Mike Singletary, William “Refrigerator” Perry, and the greatest Running Back who ever lived, Walter Payton. <sigh> It sucks to live in a city without football.
Well, feh! Look at the date on the article I linked to – it’s from today! There’ve just been so MANY endorsements for Barack lately, how can anyone be expected to keep them all straight?
McCain has responded with his own “Three A.M.” ad (I saw it on Countdown Without Keith Olbermann last night). As I remember it, his point was that, when that middle-of-the-night phone call about the economy comes, Obama and Clinton will ignore the phone and - wait for it - raise your taxes.
:rolleyes: I wish the Republicans would find another meme to play with.
I respect his service to the country…and I admire his strength to act honorably under torture. I’ve been shot at and I almost shit my pants…and thats nothing compared to what he went through. I don’t want him for prez, but he deserves respect.
Exactly, nothing against him as a human being, a damn strong human being. I give him all the respect in the world, a real all American - I just don’t think he’d be an effective president.
