What Happened to John McCain in Vietnam

John McCain’s involvement in the Vietnam War remains one of the most documented accounts of a military officer’s experience during the conflict. His service period, spanning from the mid-1960s to his release in 1973, was defined by combat missions as a naval aviator, survival in a catastrophic aircraft carrier fire, and a prolonged period as a prisoner of war (POW) in North Vietnam. This historical record examines the specific events surrounding his deployment, the circumstances of his capture in Hanoi, and the long-term physical and diplomatic consequences of his five-and-a-half-year imprisonment.

John McCain was shot down over Hanoi on October 26, 1967, during his 23rd bombing mission. He was held as a prisoner of war until March 14, 1973, spending a total of 1,967 days in captivity.

The Early Naval Career and the USS Forrestal Fire

Before his capture in North Vietnam, John McCain’s service was marked by a narrow escape from death during one of the deadliest accidents in United States naval history. In early 1967, McCain was assigned to the USS Forrestal (CV-59), a supercarrier deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin to conduct strike missions as part of Operation Rolling Thunder.

On July 29, 1967, the Forrestal was the site of a massive fire that claimed the lives of 134 sailors. The incident began when a Zuni rocket accidentally fired from an F-4 Phantom across the flight deck, striking the external fuel tank of an A-4 Skyhawk—the aircraft McCain was sitting in, prepared for launch. The impact caused a massive spill of jet fuel that immediately ignited.

Historical reports indicate that McCain was able to escape his cockpit by climbing out onto the refueling probe and jumping into the burning fuel on the deck. Seconds later, a 1,000-pound bomb from his own aircraft detached and exploded, sending shrapnel through the flight deck and killing the firefighters who had arrived to extinguish the flames. While McCain survived the blast with minor injuries to his legs and chest, the Forrestal was forced to withdraw for extensive repairs. Following this disaster, McCain volunteered for a new assignment with the USS Oriskany, a decision that would lead to his eventual capture.

The 23rd Mission: October 26, 1967

By October 1967, the air war over North Vietnam had intensified. McCain, flying an A-4E Skyhawk from the USS Oriskany, was participating in a series of high-stakes bombing runs targeting industrial and infrastructure sites in Hanoi.

On the morning of October 26, McCain took off for his 23rd combat mission. The target was the Yen Phu thermal power plant, a heavily defended facility in central Hanoi. As he began his dive toward the target, his aircraft was tracked by North Vietnamese air defense units utilizing Soviet-designed SA-2 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).

A SAM-2 missile struck McCain’s right wing, shearing it off and sending the Skyhawk into a violent inverted spin. The force of the ejection at high speed was catastrophic. McCain’s right leg was broken at the knee, and both of his arms were broken—his right arm in three places. He landed in Truc Bach Lake, a small body of water in the heart of Hanoi. Weighted down by his flight gear and incapacitated by his injuries, he nearly drowned before being pulled to the shore by a crowd of local residents and soldiers.

Captivity in the "Hanoi Hilton"

Upon his capture, McCain was transported to the Hoa Lo Prison, a facility built by the French that American POWs had nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton." His physical condition was dire. Because of his broken limbs and internal injuries, he received minimal medical attention initially.

Historical accounts from the prison records show that his captors only began providing more substantive medical treatment after discovering that his father, John S. McCain Jr., was a high-ranking Admiral in the U.S. Navy. Despite this, the treatment was rudimentary. He spent several weeks in a civilian hospital before being returned to the prison system, where he was placed in a cell with two other POWs, Bud Day and Norris Overly, who helped keep him alive during his first months of recovery.

Solitary Confinement and Living Conditions

For a significant portion of his 5.5 years in captivity, McCain was held in solitary confinement. This was a common tactic used by the North Vietnamese to break the morale of high-value prisoners and prevent the communication of information between captives.

The living conditions at Hoa Lo and other satellite camps were characterized by:

• Extreme isolation: Many prisoners spent years without seeing another American.
• Inadequate nutrition: Diets often consisted of pumpkin soup and bread, leading to massive weight loss and muscle atrophy.
• Lack of medical care: Chronic infections and untreated injuries were widespread.

The Refusal of Early Release

One of the most significant episodes of McCain’s captivity occurred in 1968. His father had been appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Command (CINCPAC), making him the commander of all U.S. forces in the Vietnam theater.

Recognizing the propaganda value of releasing the son of a high-ranking Admiral, the North Vietnamese authorities offered McCain an early release. This offer was made out of sequence, bypassing prisoners who had been captured earlier.

According to the U.S. Military Code of Conduct, Article III states: "If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available... I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy." Furthermore, the informal rule among POWs was that they would only accept release in the order of their capture.

McCain refused the offer of early release, insisting that every prisoner taken before him be freed first. This refusal led to a significant escalation in the physical abuse he suffered. For the next several years, he was subjected to frequent interrogations and torture designed to force him to sign "confessions" or participate in propaganda broadcasts.

Physical and Psychological Toll

The torture sessions McCain endured left him with permanent physical limitations. He was frequently bound in "the ropes," a technique used to dislocate shoulders and cause intense pain. Because his broken arms were never allowed to heal correctly and were further damaged during these sessions, McCain was left unable to raise his arms above his shoulders for the rest of his life.

In August 1968, after an particularly brutal period of interrogation and beatings, McCain reached a breaking point and signed a written "confession" stating he was a "black criminal" and an "air pirate." This event is often cited in historical records as a moment of profound psychological distress for McCain, who later wrote about the guilt he felt for failing to maintain total resistance, despite the fact that such confessions were common among POWs under extreme duress.

Despite this, he continued to participate in the "tap code," a secret communication system used by POWs to maintain morale and share news. This covert network allowed prisoners to organize resistance and provide psychological support to one another across cell walls.

Operation Homecoming and the Return to the US

The signing of the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973 marked the beginning of the end for the American POWs in Vietnam. Under the terms of the agreement, North Vietnam was required to release all U.S. prisoners in phases.

John McCain was released on March 14, 1973, as part of Operation Homecoming. He arrived at Clark Air Base in the Philippines before being flown back to the United States. Photos of his return show him walking with crutches, a testament to the injuries that had plagued him for over five years.

Upon his return, McCain underwent extensive surgery and physical therapy to address the damage to his limbs. While he eventually regained enough function to continue serving in the Navy for several years—even commanding a training squadron—his flying career was effectively limited by his disabilities. He retired from the Navy as a Captain in 1981.

Military Awards and Decorations

For his service and conduct as a prisoner of war, John McCain received some of the highest military honors awarded by the United States. His record includes:

The Legacy of the Vietnam Experience

The events that took place in Vietnam fundamentally shaped the historical perception of John McCain. His refusal to accept early release became a cornerstone of his public image, representing a strict adherence to military ethics.

In the years following the war, McCain’s relationship with Vietnam underwent a significant transformation. He was a leading advocate for the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam in the 1990s. Alongside other veterans like John Kerry, he worked to lift the economic embargo and establish a U.S. embassy in Hanoi.

The Monument at Truc Bach Lake

Today, at the site where McCain was pulled from the water in 1967, stands a stone monument. Originally erected by the North Vietnamese to commemorate the capture of an American "air pirate," the plaque specifically mentions "Pilot John Sidney McCain."

In a rare turn of historical irony, this monument has become a site of pilgrimage for American diplomats and Vietnamese citizens alike. When McCain passed away in 2018, the monument was covered in flowers and tributes from people in Hanoi, signaling how the site of a violent capture had evolved into a symbol of reconciliation and peace between former enemies.

Summary

The history of John McCain in Vietnam is a narrative of survival, starting from the fire on the USS Forrestal to the five and a half years spent in the prison camps of Hanoi. His refusal of an early release, despite the severity of his injuries and the offer of political favoritism, remains a defining moment of the POW experience during the Vietnam War. His subsequent efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam highlight a transition from a combatant to a key figure in international diplomacy, leaving a physical legacy both in the halls of the U.S. government and on the banks of Truc Bach Lake.

FAQ

How long was John McCain a prisoner of war in Vietnam?

John McCain was a prisoner of war for 5.5 years, or exactly 1,967 days. He was captured on October 26, 1967, and released on March 14, 1973.

Why did John McCain refuse early release?

He refused early release because it was offered out of sequence. Following the U.S. Military Code of Conduct and the agreements made among the POWs, he believed that prisoners should be released in the order they were captured. He refused to accept a "special favor" because of his father's high military rank.

Where was John McCain held in Vietnam?

Most of his captivity was spent in the Hoa Lo Prison, known as the "Hanoi Hilton." He was also held in other camps around Hanoi, often in solitary confinement.

What injuries did John McCain sustain in Vietnam?

During his ejection and capture, he broke both arms and his right leg. Due to a lack of proper medical care and subsequent torture, these injuries never healed correctly, leaving him unable to raise his arms above his head for the rest of his life.

Did John McCain ever return to Vietnam?

Yes, McCain visited Vietnam more than 20 times after the war. He was a primary architect of the normalization of ties between the U.S. and Vietnam and visited the prison where he was held, which is now a museum.