2019 -- S 0004

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE JOHN SIDNEY

MCCAIN III

     Introduced By: Senators Algiere, Ruggerio, McCaffrey, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: January 02, 2019

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Our nation lost one of its most respected statesman when United States

Senator John Sidney McCain III, a true war hero, passed away on August 25, 2018. Senator

McCain was a rarity in American politics in that he was someone who was admired, respected

and trusted by people of all political persuasions and philosophies. His passing is a grievous loss

for our nation; and

     WHEREAS, The Honorable John McCain was born on August 29, 1936, in the Panama

Canal Zone to United States Naval Officer John S. McCain Jr., and Roberta McCain. John

McCain attended approximately twenty schools in his childhood as his family followed his father

across the globe to numerous naval postings; and

     WHEREAS, John McCain entered the United States Naval Academy in 1954, following

in the path of his father and grandfather, both of whom graduated from Annapolis and became

four-star Admirals. At Annapolis, John McCain was well-regarded by his classmates for his

friendly demeanor and strong leadership abilities. He was a lightweight boxer at the Academy

and often protected students who were the targets of bullying; and

     WHEREAS, After graduating in 1958, John McCain was commissioned as an ensign and

commenced naval aviator training at Pensacola, Florida. He completed flight school and was

assigned to A-1 Skyraider squadrons, serving aboard aircraft carriers in the Caribbean and

Mediterranean Seas; and

     WHEREAS, Officer McCain would soon request combat duty, and in 1967, was assigned

to the USS Forrestal aircraft carrier where he flew an A-4 Skyhawk over North Vietnam in

Operation Rolling Thunder. On October 26, 1967, then Lieutenant Commander McCain was shot

down near Hanoi while on his 23rd mission. He ejected from his aircraft and almost drowned

when he parachuted into True Bach Lake fracturing both arms and a leg. Soon thereafter, he was

pulled to shore by some North Vietnamese people while other North Vietnamese people crushed

his shoulder with a rifle and bayoneted him. Subsequent to this horrid experience, Officer

McCain was sent to the notorious Hoa Lao Prison, sardonically nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton"

where he was refused treatment for a long period of time for his wounds and was beaten and

tortured for information; and

     WHEREAS, Officer McCain endured more than five years as a prisoner in North

Vietnam. At one point the North Vietnamese, after learning that his father was the commander of

all United States forces in Vietnam, offered to release him for their own propaganda purposes. He

refused to be released because the Military Code of Conduct required that prisoners of war be

released in the order of days of confinement with those serving the longest periods of time being

released first. As a result of his refusal, he was once again subjected to brutal torture. He and his

fellow POW's were eventually released in early 1973, but by then his injuries left him

permanently incapable of raising his arms above his head; and

     WHEREAS, Upon returning home, John McCain resumed his naval career and endured

many surgeries to fix his broken body. In 1981, he retired from the United States Navy with the

rank of Captain and was the recipient of many Navy awards and commendations; and

     WHEREAS. In 1982, Senator McCain began his distinguished political career when he

was elected to serve in the United States House of Representatives from Arizona, a position he

held until 1988 when he was elected to serve in the United States Senate. As a United States

Senator, he served as a member of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services,

serving as its Chairman from 2015 to 2018. From 1989 to 2018, Senator McCain was arguably

the most respected voice on military affairs. He also vigorously supported campaign finance

reform, opposed pork barrel spending and passionately spoke out against the use of torture in all

circumstances; and

     WHEREAS, Senator McCain first ran for President in 2000, and in 2008, he succeeded in

attaining the GOP nomination, before falling to President Barack Obama in the election. Even

though he lost that election, he always retained the admiration and respect of the American people

for his faithful and heroic service to our nation. Not surprisingly, when Senator McCain was

diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2017, he fought the disease with the vigor and grace all

had come to expect from him. He finally succumbed to the disease on August 25, 2018,

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engendering much grief but also deep appreciation for all he had done for our nation. John

McCain’s death is a grievous loss but hopefully the example he set will serve as a guidepost for

all future military leaders, political leaders, and, most importantly, youngsters throughout our

nation; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby expresses its deepest condolences to Mrs. Cindy McCain and the entire McCain Family on

the passing of the Honorable John Sidney McCain III; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Cindy McCain and Family.

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