6-2 John McCain

John Sidney McCain III was born on August 29, 1936, at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone.  John McCain is the second of three children.  His father is naval officer John S. McCain Jr. and his mother is Roberta.

Both McCain´s father and paternal grandfather, John Sidney McCain, Sr., were four-star admirals.  His father commanded all the U.S. naval forces in the Pacific Ocean region.

John McCain spent his childhood years moving between naval bases all over the world. He graduated from Episcopal High School, in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1954.  He followed his father's footsteps and he attended the Naval Academy at Annapolis.  After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1958, he went to flight school and he graduated as a pilot in 1960.

When the Vietnam War began, John McCain volunteered for combat as a pilot flying carrier based attacked planes.  On July 29, 1967, he nearly lost his life as an A-4 Skyhawk plane was shot by a missile on board the USS Forestal.  The explosion killed 134 people.  On October 26, 1967, during his 23rd mission, he was shot down on a bombing run over North Vietnam.  He broke both arms and one leg during the crash.  He was taken prisoner and placed in the Hoa Loa Prison that was nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton."

During his imprisonment, his captors learned he was the son of a high-ranking U.S. Navy Officer.  John McCain was offered early release, but he refused.  John knew the release would violate the military code of conduct and that the North Vietnamese would use his release for propaganda.  John McCain spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war.  He was moved to various prison camps during his capture and was repeatedly beaten and tortured.  He spent three and a half year in solitary confinement during his captivity before his release on March 14, 1973.  John McCain earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross for his service to his country.

John McCain lost much of his physical strength and flexibility during the years of captivity.  However, he was determined to continue serving his country as a naval aviator.  After many months of painful rehabilitation, he returned to flying duty.  It soon became clear that his permanent injuries had impaired his abilities for advancement in the Navy as an aviator.  In 1976, he was assigned as the Navy's liaison to the U.S. Senate.  In 1981, John retired from the Navy and moved to Phoenix, Arizona.  He began working in public relations for his father-in-law's beer distribution business.

John McCain was married to the former Carol Shepp from 1965-1980.  John and Carol had three children together, sons Doug Shepp and Andy Shepp (adopted), and Sydney McCain.  He later married Cindy Hensley, the daughter of a prominent Arizona liquor distributor.  John and Cindy had four children, Meghan McCain, John Sidney McCain IV, James McCain, and Bridget McCain.  Bridget McCain was born in Bangladesh and adopted in 1993 by the McCains.

John McCain was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1982.  In 1986, John McCain ran for the U.S. Senate.  John won and has been an Arizona Senator since 1987.  In 2000, he ran for the Republican presidential nomination, but was defeated by George W. Bush.   In 2008, McCain ran again for the Republican nomination, and he became the 2008 Republican candidate for the office of U.S. President.  He named Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate in August of 2008.

Answer the questions below.

1.  John McCain was born in

Alaska.

the Panama Canal Zone.

Arizona.

Vietnam.

2.  John McCain's father was a four-star admiral.

True

False

3.  After graduating from Episcopal High School in 1954, John McCain attended the Academy at Annapolis.

4.  John McCain volunteered to fight in the War as a pilot flying carrier based attacked planes.

5.  John McCain was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1982.

True

False

6.  After graduating from the Naval Academy, John McCain went to flight school and he became a .

7.  During the Vietnam War, John McCain was captured by the North Vietnamese and spent five and a half years as a of war.

8.  During John McCain's imprisonment by the North Vietnamese, he was well taken care of and he even stayed at a nice Hilton Hotel.

True

False

10.  John McCain spent three and a half years in confinement during his captivity in North Vietnam.

11.  John McCain has been an Arizona since 1987.

12.  John McCain has

three children.

four children.

five children.

seven children.

13.  John McCain earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross for his service to his country.

True

False

14.  John the McCain won the Republican nomination for U.S. President in

2000.

2004.

2008.

None of the Above

15.  In 2008, John McCain's Vice Presidential running mate is

Sarah Page.

Barack Obama.

Sarah Palin.

None of the Above