As we approached the displays showing John McCain, a young man with an American accent turned around and said, “He just died this morning.” I replied, “I know, it’s very sad.” A few minutes later, a group of American tourists came into the room and I mentioned McCain’s passing to one of the young ladies. She replied, “Yes, it’s so crazy. So sad.”

On October 26th, 1967, McCain’s plane was shot down while he was dropping bombs on a Vietnamese electric factory. He parachuted and almost drown in Truc Bach Lake. Vietnamese soldiers and regular folks pulled him from the lake. After he was treated at the military hospital, he was transferred to Hoa Lo Prison.

He Was Beaten and Tortured

Not printed on the display boards at the museum was how he was severely beaten once he was pulled from the lake. Already severely injured (both arms broken; the left one at three places) he was beaten and tortured, but he did not give out any military secrets. Only when the Vietnamese realized that he was the son of a high-ranking Admiral did they give him medical attention. When given a chance to be released, he chose to stay as the military code of conduct dictates that the longest-held prisoner should be released first. McCain was finally released with the others on March 14, 1973.

While Kenric and I disagree with most of his political views, we respect McCain tremendously as a statesman, a public servant, and an American. I was especially impressed when he defended Obama at a town hall when a woman accused Obama of being a Muslim, not that there’s anything wrong with being a Muslim. Rest In Peace, Senator John Sidney McCain III.

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