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.
