US Senator and Vietnam War veteran John McCain dies from brain cancer

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Today, the United States (US) Senator from Arizona (AZ) and Vietnam War veteran John Sydney McCain III died from complications associated with Glioblastoma discovered during a surgical procedure to remove a mass from above his left eye on July 20, 2017. Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer which afflicted the late Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, brother to US President John F. Kennedy.

After a biopsy of the mass, originally believed to be a blood clot associated with his preexisting melanoma, Sen. McCain immediately underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments at the Mayo Clinic located in Scottsdale, AZ. Input also came from the highly regarded Barrow Neurological Institute located in downtown Phoenix, AZ. Between treatment, Sen. McCain would recover at his Sedona, AZ ranch.

During the Vietnam War, he was imprisoned sustaining multiple torture techniques, which would develop into melanoma. Known then as Captain McCain, his Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was showdown over Hanoi, North Vietnam, ejecting over Trúc B?ch Lake where local fisherman pulled him from the water on October 26, 1967. The North Vietnamese offered to return Capt. McCain because of his father, Admiral John S. McCain Jr., becoming commander of all US forces in Vietnam, but Capt. McCain refused unless all prisoners of war captured before were repatrioted, thus he would be held for the remainder of the war at H?a Lò Prison, nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton” until March 14, 1973. He was chronically disfigured and endured chronic pain for the rest of his life as a direct result of the pervasive torture.

Stateside, McCain received intense physical therapy regaining his ability to walk, which was similar to the physical therapy after Glioblastoma treatments. His introduction into the world of politics came as the Navy’s liaison to the US Senate starting in 1977. After divorcing his first wife of 25 years, Caroll Shepp, in early 1980, he would marry Cindy Hensley, now known as Cindy McCain, later that year.

After two years of work for his father-in-law’s Hensley & Co. brewery, which was an Anheuser-Busch distributor, and with other companies, he would run for Congressmen for Arizona’s 1st district in 1982. He was known for going door-to-door during the summer months in Phoenix, AZ with heat in excess of 115°F (65°C). He would spend the next 5-years as Rep. McCain, until Barry Goldwater vacated his senatorial seat in 1987. Ultimately he was elected to the Senate residing as a ranking member of the politically powerful Armed Services Committee spending three decades overseeing defense spending accounting for the largest portion of federal spending.

During the 2000 presidential election cycle, Sen. McCain would run for the Republican candidacy where his biggest challenger was then Gov. George W. Bush, whom would go on to become 43st president of the US. Sen. McCain also ran for US president in 2008 clinching the Republican nomination and appointing Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his vice presidential candidate. He would be defeated by then freshmen Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama.

Sen. McCain departure leaves a leadership vacuum in the Senate as establishment Republicans are politically fractured. An endorsement by Sen. McCain is one of the most sought after things for any Republican candidate. His actions garnered the nicknamed “Maverick of the Senate” successfully producing bipartisan policies.

Since 1989, when Sen. McCain was the target of an ethics violations, later referred to as the Keating Five, Sen. McCain had sought campaign finance reform. After being determined as “acting in poor judgement”, Sen. McCain helped develop the largest modern campaign finance reform with the 2002 McCain-Feingold Act limiting special interest influence.

Specialized spending amendments made to legislation intended for a politician’s constituents, commonly referred to as ‘pork barrel spending’, has been a target for Sen. McCain calling it un-Constitutional and has never partook in the common legislative technique. Additionally, he has been against abortion and supported gun rights with a strict interpretation of the second amendment. His push for comprehensive immigration reform has not been addressed in significant policy changes.

His death will be felt in Congress with friends of all political parties and the international community. During his treatment, Sen. McCain began developed plans for his funeral which will be held **** at the Navy Academy in Annapolis, MD. Prior to his death, Navy officials honored Sen. McCain by adding his name to the Destroyer USS John McCain originally named for his grandfather and father, both Navy officers, prior to his death.

In attendance will be major power brokers domestically and internationally. Among the international dignitaries were: . …

Bipartisan politicians from across the US paid their respects including: . …

After tensions with the White House over several issues and President Donald Trump, Sen. McCain and the McCain family have barred Trump from attending the service extending an invitation to Vice President Mike Pence instead. Trump’s most notable statement about Sen. McCain was, “He is a hero because he was captured … I like people that weren’t captured”.

He is survived by his wife Cindy McCain, 7 children, and 5 grandchildren.

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