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McCain POW footage
The French National Archives have just released footage of John McCain being interviewed as a POW in a hospital bed shortly after his capture in Vietnam in October 1967. The footage was broadcast in January 1968. The French overlays the English, but you can still hear what’s going on.
Amid the daily grind of news, here’s a glimpse at history.
Topic: News Desk, Newsworthy
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back to top47 Comments to “McCain POW footage”
Yeah, Elvis Presley was in the military too. It doesn’t qualify him to be president.
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Yeah, and I have organized communities and that doesn’t qualify me to be president either.
What does Bianca, what does?
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If Elvis were running against Obama, I would vote for him.
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Didn’t ACORN register Elvis Presley to vote this year?
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Interesting that he is flat on his back after being shot down and is smoking a cigarette. You know what these guys earned the right to our respect for the rest of their lives. Did we say that anyone else wasn’t qualified to be president just because they served in the military? John McCain doesn’t go around telling all the good he has done but if you did a little you can find it. If I had been a prisoner of war in Vietnam, I might have had a problem accepting my husband bringing home a Vietnamese child for me to adopt and raise. I have two uncles who served…one never speaks of it…the other only speaks of it with contempt…along the lines of his wife fixing his first meal once he came home and it had rice.
I am also struck by how well the Vietnamese who have come to America have assimilated.
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Adios, if you had organized communites and written two books about yourself, you would qualify. I’m sure there’s still time for you.
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I could not vote for Elvis. Bedding down a 14 year old Priscilla, becoming addicted to all sorts of meds prescribed by Dr Nickopolous, blimping up to become a jump-suited mockery of his early self.. all could easily be overlooked or downplayed by the American voters. But going to the White House to confer with Nixon? Unforgiveable!
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6. Kim,
Gotta say mega-dittos on the hugely successful Vietnamese assimilation. I graduated high school in the early 80s. For several years afterward at all three high schools in my home town the paper would run pix of the Val/Sal kids. Would you believe the valedictorians and salutatorians were all VN? And remember these were kids brought here (a few born here) in the mid to late 70s. No affirmative action, no bilingual ed.
But they somehow made it and made it spectacularly. Those high schoolers went on to whiz thru on thru undergrad, med school etc.
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5 – Probably!
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Kim, Cindy McCain brought home a baby from India/Bangladesh.
You will learn much about McCain’s character from his prison experience as related by Orson Swindle and Col Bud Day. They were both in the commie slammer with Mac. Interestingly, one of their fellow POWs took early release. He is for that reason rightly a pariah among POW folks.
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All politics aside for a moment, John McCain is an amazing war hero who sacrificed much for his beloved country. He is worthy of our respect. As are all veterans.
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12. Absolutely!
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So anyone who dons a military uniform – no matter how he lives or what he does is worthy of honor? I’m sorry, but that smacks of fascism IMO.
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Cindy McCain brought a baby home without talking it over with her husband, and he said okay. That’s his character.
And turning down the early release as a POW got him five more years. That’s his character, too.
If McCain is not elected, it will be evidence of just how far down this country has gone.
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As a veteran I thank you. Some of us went over and had to go outside the concertina wire, walk or drive down dangerous streets in rought neighborhoods, kick in doors, get shot at, dodge hand grenades etc.
Others of us stayed mainly indoors in air conditioned bldgs “back there in the rear with the gear”. We enjoyed KBR-provided cooked meals, weight rooms, indoor pools. Never once drew the sidearm from its holster.
But we all sacrificed time away from wives and families. Maybe my sacrifice occurred in far better circumstances than did others, but I dont think I hugged my wife and kids any less intensely than did the gunfighters.
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#14 -Lucky for you that many have donned a uniform and fought to protect your freedom of speech so that you can articulate your opinion. It’s not the uniform that is worthy of respect, but the acts of heroism committed by honorable men and women while wearing it.
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“So anyone who dons a military uniform – no matter how he lives or what he does is worthy of honor? I’m sorry, but that smacks of fascism IMO.”
Do you even know what fascism is? What exactly does it mean in that sentence?
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To NJ Lawyer
I wouldn’t go too overboard on McCain. He dumped his first wife (she was crippled in a car accident while he was a POW).
He was not well like in the Senate, has a bad temper, was a womanizer and don’t forget his involvement in the Keating 5 fiasco.
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#14 Bianca,
At a battle fought in a war most north of the Rio Grande hardly think about, Americans and Mexicans at the time witnessed a honorable act.
US forces were about to capture the Mexican flag. One of the 6 “Ninos Heroes” grabbed the Mexican flag, draped it around his body and leapt to his death because he didnt want the enemy to capture the banner of his homeland.
Approx 100 years later while visiting Mexico, US President Harry Truman laid a wreath at the shrine dedicated to the Chapultepec cadets. Is not such bravery rare and should it not be recognized and honored whenever it happens?
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We all should honor John McCain’s sacrifice for our nation and thank him from the bottom of our heart. Thank you John!
But it does not mean we should just hand him the keys to the White House. There are additional things to take into consideration when choosing the President. And taking everything into consideration, I believe (as do millions of others) that Barack Obama will make a better President.
No more drama,
Vote Obama!
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Well, if we’re talking about a Republican, let’s all dwell on every negative things and forget all about the positive things, I write sarcastically in response to Nick’s admonition!
I am well aware of McCain’s negatives. His ex-wife wishes him well, he’s been married to Cindy for decades. There are a lot of reasons why a couple separated by POW imprisonment for years might not be able to make a go of it.
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Either does being a member of an “oppressed” minority mean we owe you the keys to the White House.
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When Bob Dole was running for president, being a injured war vet didn’t mean anything and was fair game to mock by the MSM.
When John Kerry was running being a injured war vet absolutely qualified him according to the MSM.
Now we are back to it amounting to nothing and free to mock.
There is a lot I don’t agree with John McCain on, but for his service I am grateful. Our servicemen who live through hell come out changed forever. They lay down their lives for us and if they are the ones lucky enough to come home to their families they still carry the hell–one way or another–all their lives. My son is in a part of the military we are not allowed to talk about, but I will say this, as his mother I am of course concerned for his life, but for his soul. You cannot kill another human being and it not change you inwardly and for always.
Sawgunner, Joe B. Lynn Vincent and any other vets out there, thank you for your service. Wishing you a great and early veterans day. Because of people like you, Bianca is clueless as to what Facism is.
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Sawgunner–I agree with you, #16. My husband seldom talks about being a veteran since he was stationed in California. I always tell him that is where he was needed. All service is important.
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My uncle was a POW in Korea. I can tell you that those who have gone through this have a hard time talking about it.
I met one of the men who was across the hall from McCain when they were both POW’s. I happened to have breakfast with this man and his wife. They were both very nice people and clearly people who were giving in their community. This was several years ago and we did not talk politics.
However, I have since heard this man twice on the radio, endorsing John McCain. He was on again a couple of days ago, along with another man who was in the cell with John McCain and another military man. They clearly all had great respect for McCain’s intellect and character. They also are very concerned to get him elected. As one of them said in the discussion, you really get to know the true character of someone who is in extremely difficult circumstances. True character comes to the surface and is revealed, good or bad.
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I don’t think anyone’s argued McCain should be elected simply because of his POW experience.
But the argument is this: That experience was no doubt something that strengthened and molded his character in a remarkable way. I hadn’t really thought much about it until I covered a Memorial Day event once where the speaker shared his experiences of survival as a Vietnam POW. I’ll admit I had tears in my eyes as I was taking notes.
The strength of character required to endure something like that — and how going through it strengthened these men even more — carries a lot of weight, I think.
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From reading about their postwar lives on Wikipedia, I daresay that much of the real economic advancemts and modernizations made in the American south came from the many ex POWs who came home from Union prisons and rebuilt their lives and their communities. The airlines always hire former military aviators. McCain could have by now become a wealthy CEO for any number of carriers.
He passed that up.
To that extent I liken him to Gen Lee who refused to cash-in on his good name.
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Senator McCain, you’re no Robert E. Lee.
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My father-in-law served in the Air Force until they made him retire, and he was very proud of the military and what they had done and could do. I’m sure he had nothing but respect for McCain as a veteran and especially his conduct as a POW. But after living in Arizona for 10 years, he said he could never vote for McCain for President because of serious character issues (especially issues with anger).
Not that I can imagine my father-in-law voting for Obama either. I don’t know what he would do in this election.
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I’ve seen videos of McCain that demonstrate some anger management issues (and not that long ago) and I don’t think he has the steady temperment to lead the country. But there is no doubt that he served with great distinction and courage. I think that’s one reason many people cut him some slack, even in this extremely negative campaign. Even though I’m not voting for him, I certainly salute him for those sacrifices. I don’t hold them cheap.
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So, if Obama wins, will Anlir give up his drama? Is that the silver lining in this election?
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To NJ Lawyer
Anlir in #21, without giving a single example stated he thought Obama would make a better President than McCain.
Anlir comes to a conservative Christian website and ad infinitum and ad nauseam bashes them. But he is never banned. You would think it would eventually occur to him how open-minded World Mag and conservative Christians are. Yes, you would think that.
Would a Gay, Black, Jewish, Islamic, etc. website be as tolerant?
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Re: #32
Likely not. We’ll just have to see what happens. Stay tuned
*****
Re: #33
Again, I must point out that Worldmag is open to anyone, not just conservative Christians. As long as a person follows the rules, they are welcome to comment. The editors of Worldmag have repeatedly affirmed this.
I am happy that Worldmag is tolerant of a wide variety of viewpoints. It’s a credit to their faith to do so, and I’m grateful for it.
As for other websites being intolerant, that’s their loss.
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Anlir #34
Maybe they’re just roasting you. I may not have given this crowd enough credit for humor. I’m thinking we can’t really be as cantankerous as we sound sometimes.
But I agree Obama should make a good president.
More regulation in our economy is badly needed; and will be better provided by a president who doesn’t view himself as a ‘deregulator’.
Obama handled himself well during a very gruelling 2 yr campaign process, and for the most part hasn’t given in to underhanded tactics.
I’m hoping he will follow through, and take some of Warren Buffet’s suggestions; maybe stop short-selling of financials for a longer period of time; tax the daylights out of profits on stock held short term.
I just think McCain would have a harder time doing these things. You don’t turn a de-regulator into a regulator overnight just because you can change the words on the teleprompter that quick.
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To Anlir #34
It would probably appear to impartial observers that conservative Christians are more tolerant of you than you are of them.
Ironic isn’t it?
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“Cindy McCain brought a baby home without talking it over with her husband, and he said okay. That’s his character.”
He’s not dumb. He knows who puts the butter on his bread. I suspect he had no say in the matter. If he had said “no,” he would have lost all his houses.
All said, of course John McCain is a war hero and deserves our respect for that. He does not, however, he does not deserve to be President, and I will not vote for him.
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I think anybody who served our country with courage and dedication deserves our admiration and appreciation. I don’t think it qualifies him to be President or means he should.
People, often very brave and wonderful people, are a mixture of qualities, some good and some bad.
Some of us post cliches and abstractions too, to the point of little meaning. (Saving everyone the trouble of flaming me.)
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Nick at post #36: Good point.
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I don’t think anybody is saying that military service qualifies you to become President of the United States. I think it would help, because it would most likely give a person a sort of healthy empathy with the soldiers about to face the results of his decisions. But not a total qualifier. I don’t think anybody is saying this (could be wrong, hope not).
His story also reveals his iron will, in service to country. Again, while I realize this doesn’t qualify a person for leadership, it cetainly helps.
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noun verb POW
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DJ wrote:
“But I agree Obama should make a good president.
“More regulation in our economy is badly needed; and will be better provided by a president who doesn’t view himself as a ‘deregulator’.
“Obama handled himself well during a very gruelling 2 yr campaign process, and for the most part hasn’t given in to underhanded tactics.
“I’m hoping he will follow through, and take some of Warren Buffet’s suggestions; maybe stop short-selling of financials for a longer period of time; tax the daylights out of profits on stock held short term.
“I just think McCain would have a harder time doing these things. You don’t turn a de-regulator into a regulator overnight just because you can change the words on the teleprompter that quick.”
I too am impressed with Obama. He’s smart, level-headed and well-spoken (that would be a nice change), and appears to be less morally challenged than most Democrats.
But.
You need to remember that presidents don’t pass laws, or budgets, or approve judges, so many of the “plans” presented in the debates will simply be suggestions for Congress. Of course, the president now has the single-handed ability to make war (not sure how that happened), and that should certainly affect your choice.
Congress will undoubtedly be controlled by the Democrats for at least the next two years, and most likely longer. The only question is whether they’ll achieve a super-majority. We will see the Democratic agenda implemented.
Congress has had its agenda determined by the Democrats for two years now, but everything is still Bush’s fault. If McCain is elected, he’s going to have little control over what happens, though I expect that he’ll take much of the heat for anything that goes wrong, and Congressional “oversight” will be heavy-handed.
On the other hand, Obama says that McCain is just more George Bush. It’s clear that McCain has exasperated Bush on many occasions. They’re not exactly buddies. I’m pretty sure that McCain is on that list that Bush keeps in his head. But Obama votes along party lines 96% of the time. McCain may not be Bush, but Obama is definitely Pelosi.
So do you want a rubber stamp or a scapegoat? I’m thinking that the rubber stamp isn’t so bad. If the Democrats blow it, they’ll need to take responsibility (they’ll blame it on Bush, but it won’t work very well), and if they make the world a better place, well, the world will be a better place.
California, like many other states, has survived strong Democratic majorities for years. Of course, we’ll be bankrupt in a year or two, but that’s as much the fault of the Proposition process we have as it is the fault of the legislature.
And think of all the fun Rush Limbaugh will have.
Sawgunner – I personally am delighted that you were never shot at as you sacrificed for your country. Thank-you. We recently lost a friend at work who led recon patrols in Vietnam. He saw lots of blood and death, and was shot at least twice. Apparently, the only advantage is that you take day-to-day problems much less seriously.
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Wow. Thanks for posting that. Simply amazing…
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All well and good if you think regulations are the answer. I personally think they are not. Also I don’t think our country could survive four years under an Obama administration.
Respectfully Sgt4thcross
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We’ll find out, Sarg
Woo-hoo!
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An other perspective of McCain’s POW days
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5010491.ece
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I do believe that all Americans should vote for President McCain. he has been a man and a leader
all his life A fighter pilot,senator, a presidental candidate nomineein 2000,2004 and now. He has fought in a War . He has been a prisoner of war. a patriot, He is pro-life, pro victory is Iraq.
He is for tax cuts. Now I ask what has the other candidate done besides talk?
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