I’ve been reviewing several threads on McCain and the Forrestal fire. I’m reasonably satisfied he had no culpability.
However, I’m flummoxed on how he managed to just up and leave the ship on a helicopter with a NY Times reporter. Was he AWOL? Was he granted leave by his CO? Was he debriefed first? If not, why?
So far, I can find no rational explanation.
Yeah...I don’t know anything about that, though like you, I have heard about it.
I don’t think he was hurt badly enough to warrant evac by helo on a ship that badly damaged.
I don’t think having outstanding leave approved would be any reason either (I heard something about that)
I could see if he had outstanding leave approved already, and the NYT reporter was being flown off specifically to file his report (something I could see the USN doing, as they specifically schedule helo time to bring someone like a reporter ON a ship, I am pretty sure) and McCain asked his CO if he could depart on the helo, and the CO saying “Sure, if they have room, I have no objection”.
That said, it may have merely been a true case of RHIP, and McCain had that because of his father and grandfather. Doesn’t look good in that case, but not illegal or anything like that.