Heroic action in battle and successful military missions result in Silver and Bronze Stars, occasionally a CMH, military parades and ceremonies celebrating victory.
POW status is NOT HERO status.
In McShamey’s own book he admitted he received better treatment than others plus he admitted to making a taped confession
Others said he sang loud and long
And of course Silver Stars don't have a “V” as they is what they are awarded.
Bob Dole was a true giant of the Senate, a war hero, and a Republican nominee for President.
He won’t get nearly the amount of coverage when he passes, compared to what McCain is getting.
And yet John received the Bronze Star.
POW status is NOT HERO status.
the name johnie mccain ,what comes to mind ?
1) murder on the USS Forrestal
2) manager of the Hanoi Hilton
3) hillary’s drunken drinking buddie
Ask anyone who brings up McCain being a Hero because he was captured to name all the other Heroes who were in the Hanoi Hilton with him.
Then they can name which ones used ther Captivity to attain Political Office.
The last question to them of course, did they Contribute to McCain’s 2008 Presidential Campaign and Vote for him in the Election like Donald Trump did?
As contrast, Admiral James Stockdale (then Cmdr) was also shot down and held as a POW at the same camp as McCain.
However, as the senior officer, Stockdale organized the prisoners into a unit, instituted a code of conduct for resistance, torture, behavior, and secret communications.
Because Stockdale was the prison camp resistance leader, he was moved to isolated cells, given extra beatings, and even mutilated himself to avoid being used for propaganda purposes.
For this behavior, Stockdale was awarded the Medal of Honor. That's how one becomes a hero as a POW.
-PJ
Anyone who goes to war in defense of this country is a hero to me.