McCain's Military Service

For many months now, every time Senator McCain is asked a question, no matter what the topic, somehow it comes back to, "I was a prisoner of war for five and a half years." To be perfectly clear, I have a deep and loving respect for those who serve our country in the military. Many close relatives and friends served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and around the globe -- some gave their lives and some were disabled. I honor their service and the service of John McCain.

But those people I know who served have not used that honorable service for their personal gain. They have not hidden short-comings behind their service record. They have not sought pity nor fame by using their injuries.  John McCain has done all that and more.

John McCain was one of over 600 prisoners of war in Vietnam. He was a prisoner for not the longest nor the shortest length of time. He was not tortured any more or any less than the other prisoners of war. He did not suffer any more or any less than the other prisoners of war. All prisoners of war depended on each other and supported each other -- not just John McCain.

Granted, any prisoner of war is a hero -- whether they survive or perish, whether they come home broken or intact, whether they talk about it or not. Those who have experienced being a prisoner of war did not chose to do so, but in the face of what they had to endure, they showed persistence, resourcefulness, and courage. And many more war veterans who were not actual prisoners of war found themselves, nonetheless, imprisoned by the war upon their return.

On the sole basis of being a prisoner of war, John McCain would have us to believe that he is qualified to be President of the United States of America and is "ready to serve." If that is the case, then we have 599 other prisoners of the Vietnamese War who also qualify and are ready to serve. Since his service record is what is promoted as his qualification to lead the country, then we ought to take a closer look at that service: graduated near the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy, was lucky to graduate at all, was even luckier to have an Admiral for a father.

Many veterans, including my husband, a Vietnam veteran, are appalled by McCain's shameless use of his service to promote himself. Phillip Butler, a fellow officer and POW, says it best in his open letter. Jimmy Carter, who rarely denounces anyone, says that McCain is "milking" his service record.

Get off it, McCain. When you think you're looking good, you're looking bad! Your calculatedly soft-spoken, declarations about your service and POW status dishonor you and other service men and women who fought for this country and never used that service to garner power.