[KevinB]

Here is a link to the official Navy report. Section 3 says that the missile hit A4 #405. Section 4 says the bomb fell from A-4 #405, the plane that was hit. So the official report vindicates McCain with respect to the bomb, unless McCain was the primary source of that information, of course. I would be interested in hearing from folks in the know more about his alleged cowardice and special treatment afterwards.

[rlmorel]

Funny.

For me, having hero-worshiped the POWs as a kid (as well as hero-worshiping my dad) and serving directly under McCain (for even a short time) I have this thing instilled in me about loyalty, chain of command, naval service, all that.

From the day my dad retired to the day he died, with all the things he did, he was a Naval Officer. All my friends in the civilian world after he retired were very deferential to him (were a little intimidated by him) and called him “The Commander”. This was my dad’s life, and I got all this passed on to me by osmosis and my own service.

So, when the time came to criticize McCain, I refused to do so, granting him deference as a POW and Naval Officer from a Navy family. I defended him, not for who he was as a politician and man, but who he was in a framework of a military setting. At some level to me, there was a loyalty thing going on, and I could not criticize him. It was a deference that he did not deserve.

I was very lucky. I had a Freeper send me a very down to earth and civil Freepmail. I suspect he recognized what was going on, and gradually, without excoriating me, helped me see correct approach. I cannot stand the man.

It could have been far worse. You know how it can get here on FR with things like that. I was lucky to get a Freeper who was able to approach me in a way that resonated with me.