[Jeff Head]

By all reports, including from a man who was held there in Hanoi with him, McCain was offered an early release...but refused telling his captors he would go home with the rest, which resulted in his severe beating. In addition, according to the same source, he (McCain) organized dangerous protests against their NV captors when they would not allow them to hold any type of religious meetings or gatherings.

If true, and there is no reason to doubt this other POW, those are heroic actions at the time...though I disdain and am 4-square against many of McCain's positions and actions as a politician since...as I pointed out in post #3 on this thread.

[R. Scott]

By all reports, including from a man who was held there in Hanoi with him, McCain was offered an early release...

And if he had taken the early release he would have been liable for courts martial. It would have been a violation of both the Code of Conduct and the UCMJ.
I'm starting to tire of people proclaiming him a hero for doing what he was required to do.