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Maj John Bell
7
7
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The Korean War was beginning of the end of the "Don't say anything" policy. There was a clear understanding that prisoners under sustained deprivation, isolation, and torture would eventually break. The Gold Standard of POW conduct became "Hold out as long as you can."

I daresay that the person who wrote this article understands none of that. The comparison with Tokyo Rose is disgusting and service members should know better than to post such vile trash.
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MAJ Don Bigger
MAJ Don Bigger
7 y
I read the article, but missed where they quote his fellow captives. Saying "his fellow POW's said" doesn't count. That kind of attribution carries no weight with me. If you can't cite specific names, you get no credit.

I am not a fan of John McCain, but I can't imagine what it would have been like to be a POW in any war, much less in the Hanoi Hilton. And I wonder why the author didn't address why McCain turned down early release. Because he was having the time of his life? And I'll give him a pass on his broadcast, because I don't know the circumstances surrounding why he did it. I have NO idea what I would have done in the same situation. We do have other "confessions" by other POW's that we do know were under duress.

As far as I'm concerned, every POW gets the benefit of any doubt from me absent compelling--and concrete--evidence to the contrary. This article does not provide it.
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Maj John Bell
Maj John Bell
7 y
Capt Seid Waddell - It doesn't matter. As a midshipman I had the honor to escort Admiral Stockdale around the Naval Academy when he came to speak to the Brigade. The few hours I spent with him forged in iron my beliefs about the treatment of POW's and what was possible in the way of resistance as a POW. Admiral Stockdale was a strong advocate for the change in philosophy on the code of conduct. If Admiral Stockdale was the acceptable norm, there are a whole lot of "songbird traitors" out there. All you have to do is read the Wikipedia page on John McCain to see that that was the extent of the authors research. Same quotes, same sequence. The article is plagiarism spiced with hate that comes from "political road rage." The author's assertion that Admiral Stockdale would have charged LCdr. (at that time) McCain is pure road apples.

The two officers that Admiral Stockdale filed charges against did a lot more than make statements. There were lots of "I am a war criminal" statements that came out of Hoa Lo Prison during Admiral Stockdale's tenure. The two officers in question actively worked against the prison resistance network and turned in fellow prisoners for better treatment.

There is no mention in the article of the Fact that after 10 months of almost daily beatings and torture sessions, McCain refused early parole, unless every POW captured before or at the same time was also paroled. I for one agree with the comments of the last person, who was in Hoa Lo to comment

"I have met McCain, but I don’t really know him, except by his performance as a politician, and that has not made of me a big fan. He is a consummate politician, with whom I disagree on many issues but, I do know, well, many who lived with him in prison and, while he is/was perhaps not the most likeable guy, they all tell me that his service as a POW was honorable.

So, until you KNOW WTF you are promoting, I suggest you do as I would strongly suggest to McCain – go back home, STFU, and put your efforts into something positive – we’re getting enough negativity from the liberal/progressives!"

The fact that the author is former military doesn't exempt him from being an ass. The fact that he broke his leg just means that he needs to practice his PLF. Let skilled torturers work on that broken leg and he'd claim he was Princess Diana, in a pink tutu in a matter of minutes.
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SP5 Peter Keane
SP5 Peter Keane
7 y
Exactly, they all said something. None of it treason.
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PO2 Richard C.
PO2 Richard C.
7 y
Capt Seid Waddell - I did read to the end, including the "comments of McCain's fellow captives", none of which were attributed quotes. In a court of law that's called hearsay evidence and is inadmissible except under certain very limited circumstances. None of those circumstances exist in this case. As a friend of mine likes to say - I throw the bullshit flag at those comments.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
6
6
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I have wondered if I could have withstood what McCain went through as a POW but I don't want to know. The article it seems come from a very questionable source and by now I'd think people would know just because its in print that doesn't mean its factual. I don't always agree with what John McCain has to say but in My opinion He did earn the right to express Himself. I do not approve of anyone taking aim at My fellow veterans esp. if they themselves never served and don't have a clue.
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LTC Joe Likar
LTC Joe Likar
7 y
During my time in RVN, I didn't care much about being killed but I never wanted to be captured!
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Sgt Wayne Wood
2
2
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When i was active & was taught the POW code of conduct we were given the unwritten one. ANYBODY CAN BE BROKEN... do your best.
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