Published: Jul 5, 2005 WASHINGTON (AP) - Retired Vice Adm. James Stockdale, a former prisoner of war and Ross Perot's running mate in 1992, has died, the Navy announced Tuesday. He was 81.
Posted on 07/05/2005 5:14:55 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
James Stockdale, Perot Running Mate, Dead at 81
Published: Jul 5, 2005 WASHINGTON (AP) - Retired Vice Adm. James Stockdale, a former prisoner of war and Ross Perot's running mate in 1992, has died, the Navy announced Tuesday. He was 81.
The Navy did not provide a cause of death but said he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He died at his home in Coronado, Calif.
In the 1992 presidential election, Stockdale became independent candidate Perot's vice presidential running mate, initially as a stand-in on the ticket but later as the candidate.
Stockdale gave a stumbling performance in the nationally televised vice-presidential debate against Dan Quayle and Al Gore and later said he didn't feel comfortable in the public eye.
During the debate, he commented on an exchange between Quayle and Gore:
"I think America is seeing right now the reason this nation is in gridlock. The trickle-downs and the tax-and-spends, or whatever you want to call them, are at swords point."
When Perot ran again in 1996 as the candidate of his Reform Party, Stockdale had rejoined the Republican Party.
Stockdale was born in Abingdon, Ill., and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1947.
During the Vietnam War, he was a Navy fighter pilot based on the USS Oriskany and flew 201 missions before he was shot down on Sept. 9, 1965. He became the highest-ranking naval officer captured during the war, the Navy said.
He endured more than 7 1/2 years as a prisoner, spending four of them in solitary confinement, before his release in 1973. He was tortured repeatedly, according to the Navy.
Stockdale received 26 combat decorations, including the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest medal for valor, in 1976. A portion of his award citation reads: "Stockdale ... deliberately inflicted a near mortal wound to his person in order to convince his captors of his willingness to give up his life rather than capitulate. He was subsequently discovered and revived by the North Vietnamese who, convinced of his indomitable spirit, abated their employment of excessive harassment and torture of all prisoners of war."
He retired from the military in 1979.
Survivors include his wife, Sybil, and four sons.
AP-ES-07-05-05 2002EDT
If panties weren't placed on his head according to AP he wasn't tortured! Actually, of course he was, and I pray that he rests in peace.
"It doesn't matter. Every thing that John McCain is NOT, Adm Stockdale is. A true hero, intellectual and damn good pilot."
Exactly what I was thinking.
A good and honorable man, far more than can be said of McCain.
It was disgusting the way he was ridiculed during the '92 campaign. This was truly a great man.
"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."
Who would have thought he'd out-live his impersonator.
Homecoming, released from Communist prison camp. I wonder if Dick Durbin ever heard of James Stockdale. Perhaps he'd have learned something about "gulags" and torture.
Text of his CMoH citation:
STOCKDALE, JAMES B.
Rank and organization: Rear Admiral (then Captain), U.S. Navy
Place and date: Hoa Lo prison, Hanoi, North Vietnam
4 September 1969
Entered service at: Abingdon, Ill.
Born: 23 December 1923, Abingdon, Ill..
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while senior naval officer in the Prisoner of War camps of North Vietnam. Recognized by his captors as the leader in the Prisoners' of War resistance to interrogation and in their refusal to participate in propaganda exploitation, Rear Adm. Stockdale was singled out for interrogation and attendant torture after he was detected in a covert communications attempt. Sensing the start of another purge, and aware that his earlier efforts at self-disfiguration to dissuade his captors from exploiting him for propaganda purposes had resulted in cruel and agonizing punishment, Rear Adm. Stockdale resolved to make himself a symbol of resistance regardless of personal sacrifice. He deliberately inflicted a near-mortal wound to his person in order to convince his captors of his willingness to give up his life rather than capitulate. He was subsequently discovered and revived by the North Vietnamese who, convinced of his indomitable spirit, abated in their employment of excessive harassment and torture toward all of the Prisoners of War. By his heroic action, at great peril to himself, he earned the everlasting gratitude of his fellow prisoners and of his country. Rear Adm. Stockdale's valiant leadership and extraordinary courage in a hostile environment sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
The United States lost a great hero and a real man today.
Parrot Perot was an academy grad.
Great photo. R.I.P.
Maybe, but to be fair, he probably brought a little of it on himself. He didn't really come across as the intelligent guy he most certainly was. Perhaps some of that was not his fault.
What? No hats, no buck knives, no posters?
Oh, just a hero.
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010053734/www.topguninc.com/as/store/commerce.cgi
*Salute!*
God rest him. He was a great American.
Jon Anderson's running mate in 1980.
Phil Hartman did an impression on SNL once to Dana Carvey's Perot.
God Bless the Admiral and his family.
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