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Early life and military career of John McCain

John Sidney McCain III
Born (1936-08-29) August 29, 1936 (age 80)
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy (Naval aviation)
Years of service 1958–1981
Rank US-O6 insignia.svg Captain
Unit USS Intrepid (CV-11) VA-65
USS Enterprise (CVN-65) VA-65
USS Forrestal (CV-59) VA-46
USS Oriskany (CV-34) VA-163
Office of Legislative Affairs
Commands held VA-174
Battles/wars

Vietnam War

Awards Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
others
Other work United States Senator from Arizona
U.S. presidential candidate
External video
"Vietnam Revisited with Senator John McCain", C-SPAN, September 1, 1992

The early life and military career of John Sidney McCain III spans the first forty-five years of his life (1936–1981). McCain's father and grandfather were admirals in the United States Navy. McCain was born on August 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone, and attended many schools growing up as his family moved among naval facilities. McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958. He married the former Carol Shepp in 1965; he adopted two children from her previous marriage and they had another child together.

As a naval aviator, McCain flew attack aircraft from carriers. During the Vietnam War, he narrowly escaped death in the 1967 Forrestal fire. On his twenty-third bombing mission in October 1967, he was shot down over Hanoi and badly injured. He subsequently endured five and a half years as a prisoner of war, including periods of torture. In 1968, he refused a North Vietnamese offer of early release, because it would have meant leaving before other prisoners who had been held longer. He was released in 1973 after the Paris Peace Accords.

Upon his return, McCain studied at the National War College, commanded a large training squadron in Florida, and was appointed the Navy liaison to the U.S. Senate. He divorced his wife Carol in 1980 and married the former Cindy Hensley shortly thereafter. He retired from the Navy in 1981 as a captain.


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