Diary on McCain & being a POW. How do you guys feel about this? [View All]

[beachmom]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/30/15213/4901/936/487234

This person was a POW with John McCain. It is in no means smearing him at all; still, I am not sure I feel comfortable with this.

John's treatment as a POW:

1. Was he tortured for 5 years? No. He was subjected to torture and maltreatment during his first 2 years, from September of 1967 to September of 1969. After September of 1969 the Vietnamese stopped the torture and gave us increased food and rudimentary health care. Several hundred of us were captured much earlier. I got there April 20, 1965 so my bad treatment period lasted 4 1/2 years. President Ho Chi Minh died on September 9, 1969, and the new regime that replaced him and his policies was more pragmatic. They realized we were worth a lot as bargaining chips if we were alive. And they were right because eventually Americans gave up on the war and agreed to trade our POW's for their country. A damn good trade in my opinion! But my point here is that John allows the media to make him out to be THE hero POW, which he knows is absolutely not true, to further his political goals.

2. John was badly injured when he was shot down. Both arms were broken and he had other wounds from his ejection. Unfortunately this was often the case - new POW's arriving with broken bones and serious combat injuries. Many died from their wounds. Medical care was non-existent to rudimentary. Relief from pain was almost never given and often the wounds were used as an available way to torture the POW. Because John's father was the Naval Commander in the Pacific theater, he was exploited with TV interviews while wounded. These film clips have now been widely seen. But it must be known that many POW's suffered similarly, not just John. And many were similarly exploited for political propaganda.

3. John was offered, and refused, "early release." Many of us were given this offer. It meant speaking out against your country and lying about your treatment to the press. You had to "admit" that the U.S. was criminal and that our treatment was "lenient and humane." So I, like numerous others, refused the offer. This was obviously something none of us could accept. Besides, we were bound by our service regulations, Geneva Conventions and loyalties to refuse early release until all the POW's were released, with the sick and wounded going first.

4. John was awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart for heroism and wounds in combat. This heroism has been played up in the press and in his various political campaigns. But it should be known that there were approximately 600 military POW's in Vietnam. Among all of us, decorations awarded have recently been totaled to the following: Medals of Honor - 8, Service Crosses - 42, Silver Stars - 590, Bronze Stars - 958 and Purple Hearts - 1,249. John certainly performed courageously and well. But it must be remembered that he was one hero among many - not uniquely so as his campaigns would have people believe.

Look, I don't think McCain's POW experience means he should be president.
But the truth is he IS a unique hero in politics. Hillary and Obama have nothing on him in terms of war heroics. He is the only one who actually is running for president. This was an underlying attack on Kerry, btw, before the smears. Many military people did not like him "running on" his record in Vietnam. Well, he was the only one who actually had served in the race. Running for president amounts to selling yourself 24/7. Imagine if you lived your life running for president -- true, you would listen to what everyone had to say and give solutions. BUT you would also kind of have to brag about yourself so that people would think you had the
qualifications to be president. I just think military service counts a lot, as much if not more than education or other jobs held. And it's weird to me how military people NOT running for public office end up dissing someone who has served for running in part on that service. I mean how could they not?