Posted on 08/02/2006 11:00:30 AM PDT by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON, July 29 (Reuters) - The youngest son of U.S. Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam and a vocal proponent of more American troops in Iraq, will soon report for duty in the Marine Corps, Time Magazine reported on Saturday.
Jimmy McCain, 18, will spend three months in boot camp in California this autumn and another month in specialized training.
Depending on his unit, the younger McCain could eventually wind up in Iraq where Marines have experienced heavy fighting, Time reported. Marines are also in combat in Afghanistan.
"I'm obviously very proud of my son," McCain told Time, "but also understandably a little nervous."
The U.S. military death toll in Iraq stands at 2,574, including four Marines killed on Thursday, the military said on Saturday.
McCain, an Arizona Republican, is a potential presidential candidate in 2008. He has been calling for more U.S. troops in Iraq, where violence continues more than three years into the war.
The U.S. force in Iraq has reached 132,000, gaining about 5,000 troops this week after the Pentagon extended the tour of an Alaska-based combat unit.
McCain says his son's Marine service will not change his position on the war.
McCain's family has a rich military tradition. His grandfather and father were both Navy admirals. McCain was a Navy fighter pilot when shot down over Vietnam. He spent more than five years in captivity. McCain's other son, Jack, attends the U.S. Naval Academy.
The percentage of members of Congress with children serving in the military is only slightly above 1 percent. Sens. Christopher Bond, a Missouri Republican, and Tim Johnson, a South Dakota Democrat, have had sons serve combat missions in Iraq, Time said.
I hope he isnt a Murtha in the making.
God Bless Jimmy McCain, but keep him out of the cockpit!
I wonder if they still have little yellow footprints when ya get off the bus at the recruit depot?
McCain maned his son after Jimmy Carter.
That is really cute!
I can personally attest that they did as late as 95. (Marine brat here, lots of fun around Pendleton.)
My friend who joined the Marine Reserves said that they had them there in 00 when he went through boot.
Yes, they do. My son got out of boot camp in Parris Island in January, and he had a funny story to tell about the yellow footprints. My son wears a size 16 shoe, and when he stood on the footprints, they completely disappeared under his feet. The DI kept looking at his feet entirely covering up the footprints, and gave him a bad time about it.
Cool, tradition dies hard, that and the haircut are just a couple memories, seems like yesterday. ;-)
Thanks for your service - if you don't mind me asking, when?
Wonder if this will increase or decrease the political rhetoric on the war from his Dad...
1972 ,, straight out of HS, July 6th, I was a 17 yo bumb dunny going on a long journey without much serious thought about what might lie ahead.
I should have stuck to earlier plans and gone to college..
But NOOOO.. a recruiter got me. ;-)
Notice how quickly McCains campaign got this story out to the media. I know the media aren't monitoring the Marine enlistment class. McCain using his son for political purposes.
Good for him. I'm hoping it's not just PMS. (Politically-Minded Service)
Those recruiters can be tricky, yeah... :)
I wouldn't be surprised - especially if McCain is thinking of running in 2008. But regardless I wish the guy well.
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