John McCain has a remarkable record of leadership and experience that embodies his unwavering lifetime commitment to service. First elected to the U.S. House
of Representatives from Arizona in 1982, John has led the fight for reforming
Washington, eliminating wasteful government spending, and strengthening our
nation's armed forces.
John
McCain's reform agenda to reduce federal spending and lower taxes quickly
elevated him to statewide office and he was elected to the United States Senate
in 1986, after serving two terms in the U.S. House.
In the Senate, John continued to demand that Congress put an end to loopholes
for special interests and fix the broken system in Washington that too often
allows lobbyists to write legislation and members of Congress to waste taxpayer
money. In November 2004, Senator McCain was overwhelmingly reelected with nearly
77 percent of the vote.
As
the son and grandson of distinguished Navy admirals, John McCain deeply values
duty, honor and service of country. John attended college at the United States
Naval Academy, and launched a 22-year career as a naval aviator upon his
graduation. He continued the McCain tradition of service to country passed down
to him from his father and grandfather when he asked to serve in the Vietnam
War.
On
July 29 1967, John narrowly survived the first of many near-death experiences
during his lifetime while preparing to take off on a bombing mission over North
Vietnam from his ship, the USS Forrestal. A missile accidentally fired from a
nearby plane struck the fuel tanks on John's plane and created a deadly inferno
aboard the ship. John barely escaped the fiery disaster that killed 134 men,
injured hundreds more and destroyed 20 planes.
Instead of taking the option to return home after the Forrestal disaster,
Senator McCain volunteered for more combat duty - a fateful decision that
stopped the clock on his life and separated him from his family, and country,
for five and a half years.
During
his 23rd bombing mission on October 26, 1967, a missile struck John's plane and
forced him to eject, knocking him unconscious and breaking both his arms and his
leg. John was then taken as a prisoner of war into the now infamous "Hanoi
Hilton," where he was denied necessary medical treatment and often beaten
by the North Vietnamese.
John spent much of his time as a prisoner of war in solitary confinement,
aided by his faith and the friendships of his fellow POWs. When he was finally
released and able to return home years later, John continued his service by
regaining his naval flight status.
Senator
McCain's last Navy duty assignment was to serve as the naval liaison to the
United States Senate. John retired from the Navy in 1981. His naval honors
include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and the
Distinguished Flying Cross.
Senator McCain has seven children and four grandchildren, and currently lives
in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Cindy.
