Sen. John McCain

This past weekend we lost Senator John McCain who passed away due to complications of brain cancer. The story of Senator John McCain’s life stands out as a man of good character. “The son and grandson of four star admirals, he was raised in the navy and in a tradition of military service that began before the American Revolution.” (from https://www.johnmccain.com/story/)

“An ancestor served on General Washington’s staff, and Washington himself is the Senator’s cousin many times removed.” His family’s roots have fought in the Civil War, World War I, and World War II.

While serving in Vietnam, McCain was captured by the Vietnamese when his plane went down and he was placed in several North Vietnamese prisons, one which was dubbed, “Hanoi Hilton.” McCain endured torture, repeated beatings and solitary confinement, but he never gave up.

Naval Officer John McCain

“He was miserable, underweight, suffering from dysentery and heat rash.” McCain was offered an early release due to the fact that his father was a 4-Star Admiral, but McCain refused. “He didn’t know it at the time, but the Vietnamese hoped to use his release to embarrass him and his father, the Pacific commander-in-chief, and demoralize his fellow POWs by claiming the admiral’s son took amnesty while they, lacking privileged parents, were left behind to suffer more privation and danger.” (from https://www.johnmccain.com/story/)

“The POWS were released in order of their date of capture. McCain was released on March 14, 1973. Among the decorations he received for his service in Operation Rolling Thunder and as a prisoner-of-war include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and the Prisoner-of-War medal.” (from https://www.johnmccain.com/story/)

That is why it was one of the most uncalled-for remarks that Trump ever made was his criticism of John McCain, “He’s not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured,” Trump had stated during his campaign for the Republican nomination.

What was Trump thinking? It was not only an uncalled-for remark, but as a result, Trump made an enemy of someone who could have been a powerful ally. This was a man who faced far more adversity in his life than Trump ever did. Trump made Senator McCain so angry that when the Senator was diagnosed with brain cancer, McCain didn’t want Trump to come to his funeral. Vice-President Pence will go instead.

Senator McCain would vote based on his beliefs on what was right for the country, not necessarily what was best for the party. McCain had stated repeatedly every time he did something for political reasons, it never worked out. When he did things what he believed were best for the country, it was always the best choice.

Current politicians of both parties should take a lesson from Senator McCain, to do what is best for our Country and what is morally right. 

McCain often spoke that in life we are often tested of one’s character as he said in “Character is Destiny”:  “It is your character, and your character alone, that will make your life happy or unhappy. That is all that really passes for destiny. And you choose it. No one else can give it to you or deny it to you. No rival can steal it from you. And no friend can give it to you. Others can encourage you to make the right choices or discourage you. But you choose.” 

RIP Senator McCain. K.M.

Senator John McCain
*Photos Courtesy of https://www.johnmccain.com/story/