John McCain: is he a hero or Patriot? I feel he is a Patriot, not a hero. Just because we chose to serve, does that now make us heroes?

SN Bryan King — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:22:55 -0400

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 13 at 2016 1:25 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:25:11 -0400

I am in agreement, we're still above ground, we didn't give up our life to save someone.

Response by MSgt Ken Flood made Sep 13 at 2016 1:26 PM

MSgt Ken Flood — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:26:25 -0400

YES anyone who puts the life and liberty before his or her own is a hero!!

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Sep 13 at 2016 1:29 PM

SFC J Fullerton — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:29:47 -0400

To some, heroism involves acts of valor. To others, heroism can also be individual acts of sacrifice. Whether it be being killed, wounded, or captured and tortured as a Prisoner of War. I don't think either is wrong.

Response by SFC James Asbill made Sep 13 at 2016 1:43 PM

SFC James Asbill — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:43:51 -0400

Whether he was a Patriot or a Hero before .. does nothing to mitigate the harm he has done to the country since ..

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 13 at 2016 2:58 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:58:09 -0400

This is a great point for John McCain or others. He is a patriot, if I knew more about his service I might say he was a Hero. But with what I know through the media about his service in time of war he is definitely a patriot who was a Warrior. He had to be very, very strong to survive a prison camp. He surely does not deserve any type of degradation in any regard.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Sep 13 at 2016 3:25 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 15:25:04 -0400

Can't he be both?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 13 at 2016 3:43 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 15:43:38 -0400

I guess you don't know what John McCain did otherwise you would credit him with an act of heroism. When offered the chance of release from the Hanoi Hilton (because his father's position as CINCPAC) he refused, opting instead to wait his turn for release. He knew (as well as everyone) that the North Vietnamese were going to make him pay dearly for that decision. I am loathe to name anyone a hero. To me that implies that they will always act heroically. Sadly, every hero has feet of clay. Look at the lessons of the Bible. Every hero failed. Noah became a falling down drunk. Moses was denied entry into the Promised Land because he allowed his anger to get in the way of God's mission. The lessons go on and on. We find this is true of everyday heroes, even Medal of Honor winners. Thus, I celebrate the act of heroism, not the "hero". I celebrate what John McCain did when challenged in Hanoi, but that's about all.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Sep 13 at 2016 4:17 PM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 16:17:27 -0400

Would agree except when given the opportunity to be released as a POW early he choose to stay until all those captured before him were released first. Also he was awarded a Silver Star for his actions-doesn't that make him a hero? And no I don't always agree with Senator McCain's stand on all issues.

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 13 at 2016 5:02 PM

SFC George Smith — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 17:02:44 -0400

He is a Patriot...

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Sep 13 at 2016 7:36 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 19:36:10 -0400

McCain is a terrible Senator and should have retired 12 years ago. However, he is a true Patriot and beyond doubt an American Hero. A Patriot for serving, a Hero for the hell he went through...

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Sep 13 at 2016 7:47 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 19:47:59 -0400

He answered the call, he paid a higher price than most of us. Many will call him a hero. I will always stand and salute him for what he did and put up with.
Now he needs to hang up his hat and go retire. As a senator he has slowly slid down hill. He and many more in Congress need to be replaced.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Sep 13 at 2016 7:53 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 19:53:28 -0400

McCain served faithfully as a military pilot and was subjected to a few years of torture. What more can he do to be a hero?

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Sep 13 at 2016 9:32 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 21:32:16 -0400

I would like to answer the second part of this post first,in my case I enlisted in the Army in 1965 knowing I would probably serve in Vietnam and I did,at no time then or later did I consider myself a hero,you take the Oath and do your duty period,as for John McCain I have always been impressed by his conduct as a prisoner of war under going torture when his father's position could have had him released seems heroic to me personally ,as far as being a Patriot he served his Country honorably in uniform that for me is enough proof of patriotism,remember now this response is from a 70 year old grunt so it might be a tad old fashioned.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2016 11:40 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 23:40:27 -0400

You ever spend 5.5 years in the Hanoi Hilton? He chose to serve. He didn't refuse to fly the day he was shot down. Nor did he once kowtow to his bitterly cruel NVA captors during those years of captivity. Try again. Tell me a POW (except Jessica Lynch) is not a hero.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 14 at 2016 6:26 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 06:26:05 -0400

I think he is anAmerican who served his country well. He demonstrated heroic qualities and that he loved his country. I think I would go with both.