The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Commander John Sidney McCain, III (NSN: 0-624787), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam during a period in 1968. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation, and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Commander McCain is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Bronze Star Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
December 1969 – January 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Commander John Sidney McCain, III (NSN: 0-624787), United States Navy, for meritorious service while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from December 1969 to January 1973. During this period, although under constant surveillance from his captors, he performed duties involving highly classified material in an exemplary and professional manner. Through his zealousness and ingenuity, he generated new ideas and improvised techniques greatly enhancing covert operations. Although in a hostile environment, he never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. By his inspiring courage, exceptional skill, and resourcefulness, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Commander McCain is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
February – June 1970 & February – October 1972
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Commander John Sidney McCain, III (NSN: 0-624787), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from February to June 1970 and from February to October 1972. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intra-camp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods in communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Commander McCain is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Legion of Merit
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Captain John Sidney McCain, III (NSN: 0-624787), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Director of the Senate Liaison Office of the Office of Legislative Affairs from August 1977 to March 1981. Captain McCain’s unique talents, exceptional knowledge of politico-military matters, and keen and unusual perceptive insights into the interests and relationships between key members of the Congress provided Navy leadership with sage advice and sound judgment for enacting critical legislation during a period of severe fiscal constraint. His performance in this sensitive and critical position contributed directly and significantly to the success of Navy programs before the Congress, ensuring both readiness and modernization of the Fleet. Captain McCain’s outstanding professional leadership, perseverance, and inspiring devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
October 1967 – March 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Commander John Sidney McCain, III (NSN: 0-624787), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from October 1967 to March 1973. Under the most adverse of conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion, he served as Chaplain wherein he provided spiritual guidance, instilled constructive rehabilitative thinking and conducted religious services for the benefit of the other prisoners during their long internment. In addition, he served as an educator to provide diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners. Despite the lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout this lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Commander McCain is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of WarAction Date:
October 27 – December 8, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander John Sidney McCain, III (NSN: 0-624787), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 27 October to 8 December 1967. Commander McCain’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected Commander McCain to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, Commander McCain reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Commander [then Lieutenant Commander]Action Date:
October 26, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] John Sidney McCain, III (NSN: 0-624787), United States Navy, for heroism while participating in aerial flight on 26 October 1967 in North Vietnam. While attacking the thermal power plant at Hanoi, Commander McCain, despite extremely heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire and more than fifteen surface-to-air missiles in the air, pursued the attack until his aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire. Although his aircraft was severely damaged, he continued his bomb delivery pass and released his bombs on the target. When the aircraft would not recover from the dive, Commander McCain was forced to eject over the target. By his exceptional courage, superb airmanship, and total devotion to duty, Commander McCain reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
October 26, 1967 – March 14, 1973
Commander John Sidney McCain, III (NSN: 0-624787), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from October 26, 1967 until his release on March 14, 1973.