Being motivated strictly from the standpoint of helping his brothers is one thing, but it is also clear that if he had taken the easy way out because he was the son of an Admiral, he would have been viewed as a dirtbag and traitor to his fellow prisoners. Therefore, he did not not have a realistic way out.
>>he would have been viewed as a dirtbag and traitor to his fellow prisoners. Therefore, he did not not have a realistic way out.<<
He could have just taken them up, walked away, resigned his commission and lived a great life as a civilian. The son of an admiral who was a POW (the son, not the admiral) he would never have wanted for anything.
Decisions of this magnitude are, IMHO, not from “what will people think of me” but “what is the right thing to do?”
I ascribe the latter to aviator and Senator McCain. Perhaps because I do not know what my decision would be when I look deep. The same as all of us (again IMHO).