In Defense of John McCain's Age and War Record

I have heard it suggested that John McCain's war record and age are a detriment. There have been malicious attacks on these points. People have said that he is not fit to be President because he was shot down and taken prisoner. They suggested he was un-American and failed to do his duty as a prisoner of war by not agreeing to be released early. Some have called him a coward for this. People have also said that McCain is too old to be President. Suggesting, with all too mirthful a tone, that he could well die in office.

On FOXNews.com, September 11, 2008, an Associated Press story quotes Matt Damon as saying, "You do the actuary tables, there's a one out of three chance, if not more, that McCain doesn't survive his first term, and it'll be President Palin."

Even though McCain will be 71 years old when taking the oath of office if he wins, making him the oldest President to be elected, his age is not really much older than past US Presidents. Upon taking the oath, Ronald Reagan was less than a month shy of his 70th birthday. George H. W. Bush was 64 1/2, Dwight Eisenhower was over 62, James Buchanan was nearly 66, Zachary Taylor was older than 64, and William Harrison was 68. The average median age of a President at the time of being sworn in is 55, with the youngest being Theodore Roosevelt at just under 43 years old. Reagan lived fifteen more years after serving eight in the White House.

Lt. jg Jack Kennedy, commanding the PT 109 on orders to seek out and engage enemy Japanese ships, was cut in half by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri. This action was without warning and not immediately registered by those on the Japanese ship. It was simply an accidental collision of two ships at sea. Their lack of detection and capture by enemy forces was completely chance. Did this mean Jack Kennedy was unfit to be President? Of course not. It was simply part of his Naval service record. Did the Democrats bring this incident to light during his run for the office, labeling him a hero? Of course they did. It was simply part of his "story", as politicos would say today. Not an endorsement nor a detriment to their ability to serve the office.

As for the the issue of his capture and actions as a prisoner of war, The US Fighting Man's Code ("The Bluejackets' Manual") has this to say: "Any member of the military who may be captured by the enemy or unfriendly forces, in war or in peace, must be guided in his actions by the six articles of this code."

Article III states, "If I am captured I will continue to resist, by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aide others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy."

Stated simply, this means if you are captured, you try to get away and help others to get away. But it also states that you will not accept parole. Parole agreements are categorized as promises by the prisoner to not bear arms or not to escape, in return for early release or special treatment. It absolutely, as referred to in the explanatory paragraph in the Bluejackets' Manual, means you will not sign or enter into any sort of parole agreement. And this was exactly the thing his captors offered him, once they found out his father was Admiral John McCain, Jr., the Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Command.

Which means that John McCain's actions as a prisoner of war were completely in keeping with stated US military forces policies. He was unable to escape due to his injuries. And he refused any sort of parole which would allow him special treatment and early release.

Bibliography and sources

The Bluejackets' Manual / 20th edition
revised by Bill Wedertz
ISBN:0-87021-111-0

Wikipedia
List of US Presidents by age
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidents_by_age

John F. Kennedy's Naval Serice
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq60-2.htm

FOXNews.com - Matt Damon
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,420621,00.html