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Military Times Hall of Valor

John McCain , III

  • Date of birth: 29 Aug. 1936
  • Place of birth: Coco Solo Naval Air Station,

  • John McCain, III, represented a third generation of Naval Academy graduates when he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1958. He was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on October 26, 1967, and was held until his release on March 14, 1973. After his retirement from the Navy in 1981 as a Captain, McCain was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 1st District and served from January 1983 to January 1987. He was next elected to the U.S. Senate from Arizona and has served in that office since January 1987. He ran for President of the United States in the 2000 and 2008 Presidential Elections.

Awards and Citations

  1. Silver Star

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    Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander John Sidney McCain, III (NSN: 0-624787), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 27 October to 8 December 1967. Commander McCain's captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected Commander McCain to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, Commander McCain reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.

    Service: Navy

    Rank: Commander