John S. McCain Sr.

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For McCain's son and grandson, see John S. McCain, Jr. and John McCain, respectively
John S. McCain Sr.
Nickname(s)"Slew"
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1906–1945
RankAdmiral
Commands heldUSS Ranger
Air Forces for Western Sea Frontier and the South Pacific Force
Bureau of Aeronautics
Second Fast Carrier Force
Task Force 38.1
Task Force 38
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsNavy Cross
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3)
RelationsAdm. John S. McCain, Jr. (son)
Capt./Sen. John S. McCain III (grandson)
Brig. General William Alexander McCain (brother)
Admiral McCain (R) with Admiral William Halsey (L) on the battleship Missouri on September 2, 1945 shortly after the ceremony in which Japan surrendered, ending World War II.
John S."Slew" McCain, Sr and John S."Jack" McCain, Jr. on board a U.S. Navy ship in Tokyo Bay, c. September 2, 1945.
McCain as a young ensign listens to President Theodore Roosevelt as he stands on a gun turret to address the officers and men of the USS Connecticut (BB-18), upon its return as a part of the Great White Fleet in February 1909 in Hampton Roads, Virginia

John Sidney McCain Sr. (August 9 1884 – September 6 1945) was a U.S. Navy Admiral. He held several command assignments during the Pacific campaign of World War II. He is the grandfather of Arizona Senator and the 2008 Republican Presidential nominee John S. McCain III.

Early life and career

McCain was born in Carroll County, Mississippi, the son of plantation owner[1] John Sidney McCain (b. Mississippi, 1851 – d. 1934) and wife Elizabeth-Ann Young (b. Mississippi, 1855 – d. 1922), who married in 1877. He attended the University of Mississippi and then the United States Naval Academy, which graduated him in 1906.

Soon after earning his commission, McCain sailed aboard the Great White Fleet's world cruise from 1907 to 1909. His next assignment was to the Asiatic Squadron, after which the Navy ordered him to the naval base at San Diego, California. During the First World War, he served on convoy duty in the Atlantic.

In the 1920s and early 1930s, McCain served aboard USS Maryland, USS New Mexico, and USS Nitro. His first command was USS Sirius. In 1936, he became a naval aviator and from 1937 to 1939 he commanded the aircraft carrier USS Ranger. In January 1941, after promotion to rear admiral, he commanded the Aircraft Scouting Force of the Atlantic Fleet.[2]

World War II and the conclusion of his career and his life

After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Navy appointed McCain as Commander, Aircraft, South Pacific in May 1942. As COMAIRSOPAC, he commanded all land-based Allied air operations supporting the Guadalcanal campaign in the Solomon Islands and south Pacific area. Aircraft under McCain's command, including the Cactus Air Force, located at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, were key in supporting the successful effort to defend Guadalcanal from Japanese efforts to retake the island during this time.[3]

In October 1942, the Navy ordered him to Washington, D.C. to head the Bureau of Aeronautics. In August 1943, he became Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air with the rank of vice admiral.[3]

McCain returned to combat in the Pacific in August 1944 with his appointment as commander of a carrier group in Marc Mitscher's Task Force 58 (TF 58), part of Raymond Spruance's Fifth Fleet. In this role, McCain participated in the Marianas campaign, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the beginning of the Philippines campaign.[3] At the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Admiral William Halsey left in pursuit of a decoy force, leaving Rear Admiral Clifton "Ziggy" Sprague's Task Unit 77.4.3 (usually referred to by its radio callsign, "Taffy 3") to continue supporting forces ashore, defended by only a light screen of destroyers and destroyer escorts.

Taffy 3 came under attack from a much heavier Japanese force, under Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita, provoking the Battle off Samar. Sprague promptly began to plead for assistance from Halsey who had promised to organize a heavy protective group, Task Force 34 (TF 34), but neglected to authorize or detach it before turning north to follow the decoys. Hearing Sprague's pleas (including messages in plain language, not even bothering to encrypt them, as the situation grew desperate), Admiral Nimitz sent Halsey a terse message, "Turkey trots to water GG From CinCPac Action Com Third Fleet Info Cominch CTF Seventy-Seven. Where is task force Thirty-four RR The world wonders". Halsey was infuriated (not recognizing the final phrase as padding, chosen for the anniversary of the Charge of the Light Brigade) and sent McCain's Task Group 58.1 (TG 58.1) to assist.[4]

McCain had been monitoring the original pleas for help and, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, had turned around without awaiting orders.[5] His ships raced downwind towards the battle, briefly turning into the wind to recover returning planes. At 10:30, a force of Helldivers, Avengers, and Hellcats was launched from Hornet, Hancock, and Wasp at the extreme range of 330 miles (610 km). Though the attack did little damage, it strengthened Kurita's decision to retire.[6]

On October 30, 1944 McCain assumed command of TF 38. He retained command of the fast carrier task force that he led through the Battle of Okinawa and raids on the Japanese mainland.[3]

While conducting operations off the Philippines, McCain as Chief of Staff of Third Fleet, participated in Halsey's decision to keep the combined naval task force on station rather than avoid a major storm, Typhoon Cobra (later known also as "Halsey's Typhoon") which was approaching the area. The storm sank three destroyers and inflicted heavy damage on many other ships. Some 800 men were lost, in addition to 146 aircraft. A Navy court of inquiry found that while Halsey committed an error of judgment in sailing into the typhoon, it stopped short of unambiguously recommending sanction.[7]

By war's end in August 1945, the stress of combat operations had worn McCain down to a weight of only 100 pounds. He requested home leave to recuperate but Halsey insisted that he be present at the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay, Japan on September 2, 1945. Departing immediately after the ceremony, McCain died of a heart attack at his home in Coronado, California on September 6, 1945. He was posthumously promoted to full admiral.[3]

During his career McCain was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and two Gold Stars in lieu of subsequent awards.[8] McCain Field, the operations center at Naval Air Station Meridian was named in his honor.

Family and marriage

His grandfather, William Alexander McCain (b. North Carolina, 1812 – d. 1863), died while serving as a private in Company I, 5th Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry, Confederate States Army. During his life, he owned a 2,000-acre (8.1 km2) plantation in Carroll County, Mississippi known alternately as "Teoc" (the Choctaw name for the creek it was located upon) and "Waverly", as well as 52 slaves. He was married in 1840 to Mary Louisa McAllister (b. Alabama, 1812 – d. 1882). William's son, the first John Sidney McCain, known as J.S. McCain (which may explain the apparent discrepancy in Senator John S. McCain being the III, rather than the IV), served as Sheriff and, later, President of the Board of Supervisors of Carroll County.

McCain's older brother, another William Alexander McCain, also attended the University of Mississippi before transferring to the United States Military Academy. William A. McCain would eventually retire with the rank of Brigadier General, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for actions in World War I, as well as the Oak Leaf Cluster during World War II. An uncle, Henry Pickney McCain (b. Mississippi, 1861 – d. 1941), also attended West Point and later retired from the Army as a Major-General. Camp McCain, a WWII training base and current Mississippi National Guard training site, located in Grenada County, Mississippi, is named for him.

He married Catherine Davey Vaulx who was eight years his senior (b. Fayetteville, Arkansas, 9 January 1876 – d. San Diego, California, 29 May 1959) on 9 August 1909 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.

His son, John S. McCain, Jr. was a submarine commander in World War II and later served as CINCPAC, Commander in Chief Pacific Command, during the Vietnam War.

His grandson, John S. McCain, III was a U.S. Navy pilot during the Vietnam war, and was shot down and spent over five years as a P.O.W. in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" and other North Vietnamese camps. After his release, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate from Arizona. He ran for President in 2000 (losing the Republican nomination to George W. Bush). John S. McCain, III wrote a book, Faith of My Fathers, concerning his navy family and his own experiences as a Midshipman at Annapolis, a naval aviator and prisoner of war. John S. McCain, III is the Republican nominee for President in 2008.

John S. McCain III claims a royal connection on his campaign website: "McCain’s family roots in Europe are Scotch-Irish. His great-aunt was a descendant of Robert the Bruce, an early Scottish king. McCain's roots in America date to the American Revolution. John Young, an early McCain ancestor, served on Gen. George Washington's staff."[9] John Young's ancestry has been traced to John Lamont, Baron McGorrie (the "red baron of Inverchaolain and Knockdow"; 1540–1583).[10][11]

Great-grandson John Sidney "Jack" McCain IV is currently enrolled as a Midshipman at Annapolis, and his other great grandson, James Hensley "Jimmy" McCain, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2006, and began recruit training in September 2006.[12] He finished a tour of duty in Iraq in 2008.[13]

Awards

References

Notes

  1. ^ John McCain 2008 - John McCain for President at www.johnmccain.com
  2. ^ Boatner, Biographical Dictionary, p. 351.
  3. ^ a b c d e Boatner, Biographical Dictionary, p. 351.
  4. ^ McCain, Faith of My Fathers, 40–41.
  5. ^ This makes one wonder at Halsey's claim of being unaware.
  6. ^ "Wasp". DANFS. U.S. Naval Historical Center. 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  7. ^ Drury, Halsey's Typhoon.
  8. ^ USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), [1].
  9. ^ "John McCain 2008:John McCain for President". Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  10. ^ "Ancestors of one Young family in America". Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  11. ^ Ancestry of John McCain (b. 1936)
  12. ^ "Sen. McCain's youngest son joins Marine Corps". Marine Corps Times. Associated Press. July 31 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "McCain win might stop sons from deploying". Navy Times. March 10 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Books

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

Web

  • Arlington National Cemetery (2007-10-17). "John Sidney McCain". Retrieved 2008-04-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessyear=, |coauthors=, and |month= (help)


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