Trick wrote:I know little about this, but what makes a man a “war hero” ? He served in the Vietnam war? What heroic act did he do ? I guess most Americans, both those who where in the action and those who where back home believed their country took part of it for the greater good, and maybe it was for a greater good too?
But then all the American boys that took part in that war are “war heroes ? ....Longtime politicians at the very top of politics possessing integrity and honor, well maybe some do, but hard to believe. It’s interesting when people say such thing, He is such a great guy, He’s such a honorable guy, when the closest one has been to the guy was watching him on the telly. Not saying that to point at anyone on this forum, it’s just an general observation......Anyway John McCaine has passed, may he R.I.P.
It is interesting on how many and the media who criticized him while alive eulogise him in death.
As noted there are many who were captured and held as POWs mostly unknown
to the gen public. For example
"Floyd J. Thompson, 69; Held Longest of Any U.S. POW. Col. Floyd J. Thompson, who endured nearly nine years of torture, disease and starvation in Vietnam as the longest-held prisoner of war in American history, has died. He was 69.Jul 19, 2002"
"Thompson spent the next nine years (3,278 days) as a prisoner of war, first at the hands of the Viet Cong in the South Vietnam jungles, until he was moved in 1967 to the Hanoi prison system.[5] During his captivity, he was tortured, starved, and isolated from other American POWs.[6] At one point, Thompson did not speak to another American for over five years. He was released with the other POWs in mid-March 1973 in Operation Homecoming.
Return to the United States"
Bad war for the US,,Bad for the vietnamese.
Comments reflected my thoughts on some of the comments here using a mans death to comment
on perceived political short comings or faults of others.
Felt it kind of cheapened it...
as someone pointed out everyone has an opinion.
Notable Vietnam-era POWs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._pris ... ietnam_Wartransferred to Hỏa Lò prison.
Notable Vietnam-era POWs
Donald Cook (Medal of Honor), USMC military advisor with the South Vietnamese Marine Corps. Awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.
Everett Alvarez, Jr., USN pilot, the first American airman shot down over North Vietnam and the second longest held prisoner of war in American history.
Lawrence Barbay, USAF navigator/electronics warfare officer, prisoner for nearly 7 years, recipient of the Silver Star
John L. Borling, USAF pilot, retired Major General.
Charles G. Boyd, USAF pilot, recipient of the Air Force Cross, and the only Vietnam-era POW to reach the four-star rank.
Fred V. Cherry, veteran of the Korean War, recipient of the Air Force Cross, and the senior African American prisoner held in North Vietnam.
George Coker, USN bombardier-navigator, recipient of the Navy Cross.
Bud Day, USAF pilot, recipient of both the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross.
Billy Davis, USA held by the Viet Cong from October 1971 until escaping in November 1971.
Dieter Dengler, USN pilot, escaped a Pathet Lao prison camp in Laos, recipient of the Navy Cross.
Jeremiah Denton, USN pilot, recipient of the Navy Cross, former U.S. Senator from Alabama.
John P. Flynn, USAF pilot, retired Lieutenant General and recipient of the Air Force Cross.
John Frederick, USMC radar intercept officer, veteran of four wars, recipient of the Navy Cross. Died in captivity in 1972.
Larry Guarino, USAF pilot, veteran of three wars, recipient of the Air Force Cross.
Sam Johnson, USAF pilot, veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
James H. Kasler, USAF pilot, veteran of three wars, jet ace during the Korean War, and the only individual to be awarded the Air Force Cross three times.
Richard P. Keirn, USAF pilot, prisoner of war in both World War II and the Vietnam War.
William P. Lawrence, USN pilot, Vice Admiral; Commander U.S. Third Fleet, Superintendent of U.S. Naval Academy.
John McCain, former USN pilot, former U.S. Senator from Arizona, and the 2008 Republican presidential nominee.Pete Peterson, USAF pilot, three-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam.
Jon Reynolds, USAF pilot, retired Brigadier General.
Robinson Risner, USAF pilot, retired Brigadier General, two-time recipient of the Air Force Cross.
Robert H. Shumaker, USN pilot, retired Rear Admiral.
Lance Sijan, USAF pilot, and posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. Died in captivity in 1968.
James Stockdale, USN pilot, retired Vice Admiral, and recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Ronald E. Storz, USAF pilot, recipient of the Air Force Cross. Died in captivity in 1970.
Orson Swindle, USMC pilot, former Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission.
Floyd Thompson, USA Special Forces, POW for nearly nine years, and the longest held prisoner of war in American history.Leo K. Thorsness, USAF pilot, recipient of the Medal of Honor.
James N. Rowe, USA Special Forces, held by the Viet Cong from October 1963 until escaping in December 1968.
Charles Klusmann, the first American airman shot down in the Vietnam War over Laos and the first to escape.
William A. Robinson, (USAF Ret.), the longest-held enlisted POW of the Vietnam War, recipient of the Air Force Cross.
Ralph T. Browning, USAF pilot, retired Brigadier General, Silver Star recipient