Since July 2017, Sen. John McCain has been in the fight of his life. Specifically, McCain was diagnosed with a brain cancer, glioblastoma, the malady that killed Edward Kennedy at age 77 in 2009. McCain is 81 and his prognosis is bleak.
McCain, of course, was the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, losing to Barack Obama. He has served in the Senate from Arizona since 1987, succeeding Barry Goldwater.
McCain’s most impressive service, however, was as a naval aviator during the Vietnam War. Shot down over Hanoi in 1967, he was incarcerated at Hoa Lo prison, the notorious “Hanoi
Hilton,” where he was repeatedly beaten, tortured and nearly starved to death until his release in 1973. Some of McCain’s injuries were permanent, and he still cannot raise his arms above his head.
Remarkably, North Vietnam offered to free McCain as early as mid-1968. McCain is of a naval family, and his father was a prominent admiral. Freeing the admiral’s son could have facilitated communist propaganda.
But in accord with the highest naval principles and traditions, the admiral’s son disdained this offer, risking his life and glorifying his soul.
As a senator, McCain has been a fervent critic of Donald Trump, and Trump has retaliated in kind. But this is not an argument between equals.
Trump was of prime military age during Vietnam, but evaded service with five draft deferments. One of these was based on a claim of podiatric “bone spurs.”
Yet at this very same time, Trump claims that he was being scouted by the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. In his own words, “I was always the best athlete. Always the best player. I was the best baseball player in New York.”
Can’t do that with bone spurs. For that matter, Trump was ostracized as a sore loser, a spoiled brat who smashed other players’ bats and never apologized.
Currently, McCain is the most distinguished member of the United States Congress. He is esteemed not only for his military valor, but for his 31 years of political courage, independence and straight talk.
The senator is dismissive of Donald Trump, and has made it known that the president will not be welcome at his funeral. John McCain will rest in peace.
Joseph Tipler
Centralia
