McCain, 1967 statement: I started running over towards him and I was near a group of men with a fire hose. As I was about 10 feet from him the first bomb exploded and blew me back about 15 feet. I sat up and saw a lot of bodies near me (some who had been on the hose) and I ran and jumped over the starboard cat walk [under the flight deck].
I would imagine that ‘untrained’ people trying to fight the fire would basically be in the way, much the same as a Pol showing up early on in a ‘disaster’..they just take away from the job at hand.
Also, would think the standing order to ALL pilots is to seek safety and get out of the way so they can ‘live’ to fight another day.
If McM ‘unliked’ and he in close proximity, probably a good idea to get him off the ship ASAP and would imagine ALL the Pilots etal were off the ship quickly.
And his father being ‘up there in rank’ (Senior Capt or MAYBE Admiral by then) would have something to do with removing him, especially if he had received burns etc.
I still contend had his father/Grandfather not been High Ranking Officers he would have been ‘demerited’ out of USNA providing he was ever a selectee.
RHIP and apparently it carried in Ms favor.