McCain kicking off his bio-week? Dad & Granddad were admirals. What was McCain's rank?

[havocmom]

Gotta leave soon and can't babysit this thread or keep searching for info. What WAS McCain's rank when he left the Navy? I know he got into officer's rank by virtue of the family name more than personal performance. That he was (like bush) a party animal with a questionable rep. So, what rank was he when he mustered out. Yeah, I know, POW may have inhibited his career, but, the crash that made him a POW was crash #5 for him from what I have been reading. He was NOT a stellar pilot from that evidence.

He is now touting his military record. So, DUers, let's get the facts of that record out, front and center. Let's not let the man coast on his dad's and granddad's reputation yet again. His dad and granddad are not running for President. THEIR experience and accomplishments are NOT his experience and accomplishments. Do not let him score points for what somebody else did!

McCain wants to hold his military career up as something to consider in November? Fine, consider it fair game now. His is not a sterling record. Bring it up and take him down with what he did and didn't do prior to becoming a POW. (I do feel THAT part of his life is off limits, as he was not the author of those years.)

What say you, DU, regarding McCain's personal military career? Drag any and all skeletons out of his footlocker. Do not let him rest on the laurels of his relatives. Neuter this military experience facet of the McCain Campaign. No need to 'swiftboat' just get the facts out there as topics of discussions at water coolers around the nation.

Make this "FACTS ABOUT McCAIN" week on DU. If McCain wants 'bio-week', by all means, oblige him! :evilgrin:

[Oceansaway]

1. he's a major flip-flopper....n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. K&R!

[Mika]

3. A general f#ck up. n/t

[Mz Pip]

4. One bit of info I remember

was that he pretty much graduated at the bottom of his class. He was another 'legacy' boy. Dad was an Admiral, son was a screw up.

[Wickerman]

5. from Wikipedia

--snip

John McCain's pre-combat duty began when he was commissioned an ensign, and started two and a half years of training as a naval aviator at Pensacola.<18> There he also earned a reputation as a party man.<6> Graduating from flight school in 1960,<19> he became a naval pilot of attack aircraft. McCain was then stationed in A-1 Skyraider squadrons<20> on the aircraft carriers USS Intrepid and USS Enterprise,<21> in the Caribbean Sea and in the Mediterranean Sea.<22> He survived two airplane crashes and a collision with power lines.<22>

On July 3, 1965 McCain married Carol Shepp, a model originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.<13> McCain adopted her two young children Douglas and Andrew;<23><21> he and Carol then had a daughter named Sidney.<24><25>

McCain requested a combat assignment,<26> and in December 1966 was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal, flying A-4 Skyhawks.<27><28> McCain's combat duty began when he was thirty years old. In Spring 1967, Forrestal was assigned to a bombing campaign during the Vietnam War.<13><29> McCain and his fellow pilots were frustrated by micromanagement from Washington;<30> he would later write that "In all candor, we thought our civilian commanders were complete idiots who didn’t have the least notion of what it took to win the war."<29>

snip--

[MercutioATC]

6. 43's dad was a President.

...ancestry didn't seem to help his competence at all...

[havocmom]

8. Part of the point we need to make to America!

And we DON'T let McCain score points for the military service of his dad and grandfather! Their experience is NOT his credential! Do not let him put their service on his resume!

[OwnedByFerrets]

7. I wont vote for anyone because of their color, race, gender.....

OR military experience. I "will" however, vote based on their ability to make crucial decisions and how I feel they will bring America back from the edge of disaster.

Oops, I left out religion.

[sarge43]

9. He retired as a Captain (O-6)

Not shabby for 23 years service, but according to the Wiki article his career was spinning wheels due to his physical condition and lack of a blue water command.

I say there should be a demand for release of his military records. If he's going to make a BFD of his service, then by all means let's have a close look at the facts of it.

[havocmom]

10. Thank you. And agree with demanding release of his military service records

Now that HE has brought that part of his life up as a reason to vote for him, that makes it fair game!

America didn't insist on an examination of bush's service and let the media slide with just telling the parts BFEE wanted played up. The results of that oversight did not serve America. If a candidate it gonna wave his military service as something that makes him suitable for the Oval Office, that military service deserves very close examination!

[Freedomofspeech]

11. Graduated next to last in his class in the Naval Academy...

[havocmom]

13. One wonders what other promising officer candidate missed going

due to McCain getting/staying in because of family pull.

[cpamomfromtexas]

12. Here's a hint for you

Why don't other POW's campaign with him?

I have family members who have spoken to POW's and they will hardly speak McCain's name.

WONDER WHY?

[havocmom]

14. Good questions. Kerry had a bunch of comrades eager to campaign for him

Seems McCain has no comrades from his days in the military. Odd.

[Disturbed]

15. McSame was 5th from the bottom of his Naval Acadamy Class.

He was a mediocre pilot, at best. He was not a hero before he was shot down. He is
being touted as a Hero because he was a POW. That was many years ago. His stint in
Congress should be the focus of his evaluation.

[havocmom]

17. I agree about focusing on his political career, but HE is now bringing up his military service

so, his lack luster stint prior to becoming a POW is fair game.

[DesertRat]

16. McCain lost five U.S. Navy aircraft

Navy pilot John Sidney McCain III should have never been allowed to graduate from the U.S. Navy flight school. He was a below average student and a lousy pilot. Had his father and grandfather not been famous four star U.S. Navy admirals, McCain III would have never been allowed in the cockpit of a military aircraft.

His father John S. "Junior" McCain was commander of U.S. forces in Europe later becoming commander of American forces in Vietnam while McCain III was being held prisoner of war. McCain III's grandfather John S. McCain, Sr. commanded naval aviation at the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.

During his relative short stunt on flight status, McCain III lost five U.S. Navy aircraft, four in accidents and one in combat.

Robert Timberg, author of The Nightingale's Song, a book about Annapolis graduates and their tours in Vietnam, wrote that McCain "learned to fly at Pensacola, though his performance was below par, at best good enough to get by. He liked flying, but didn't love it."

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_mccain_lost_five_u.htm