The Code of Conduct introduced after the Korean War states captured military members “will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.”
Military rules go further to dictate who can be released early. Ultimately, any decision to accept early release lies solely with the POW community’s senior ranking officer. The basic rule is “First in, first out”, however the SRO can make other considerations such as those who’s medical conditions would warrant early release, or some other person who’s release would benefit the whole.
Any offer of release by the enemy is considered conditional, and therefore parole, unless an individual had been given permission by the SRO to accept release.
Accepting parole also would be a violation of the UCMJ, punishable by courts martial.
Every military aviation officer knew the Code, and the additional aspects.
McCain didn’t need Capt Stockdale, or Colonel Flynn, or Lt Colonel Risner, or anyone else in the POW senior leadership to forbid him from accepting release.
That said, McCain had been near death a few months prior to being offered release, and it was after he refused that the Vietnamese started the rope torture which resulted in most of his permanent disabilities.
Trump was correct that McCain’s opportunity for heroism was due to his capture. If McCain had not been captured, he likely would have had a middling Naval career (his career was fairly middling, regardless). However, Trump’s comment “I like people who weren’t captured” shows a stunning ignorance of the military. There is a reason the Air Force named its top leadership award after Lance Sijan. There is a reason “Stockdale on Stoicism” is mandatory reading in the Naval Academy.
Lance Sijan, James Stockdale, and Bud Day will all be waiting in the afterlife when Donald Trump arrives. He may not like them when he meets them. I doubt they will like Trump either.
You’re wrong on a number of counts.
First, some POWs had accepted early release without permission from the POW Commanding Officer. Thus, the order issued by Admiral Stockdale was necessary.
Second, McCain was asked two times if he would accept early release by his captors. The first time he said in his own words “I will need to think about it”. The second time he said “my answer is no”. But you know, he had to “think” about it.
Third, Trump said the truth in responding to McCain calling patriotic Arizonians “crazies”, that McCain was a hero only because he was captured and that he preferred heroes that were not heroes because of their capture.
After DECADES of allowing the media hero myth to be perpetuated, and in response to overwhelming pressure from constituents who have had it with this sorry excuse for a human being, McCain FINALLY admits just this morning that he’s no hero.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3314205/posts