John McCain is one of the most admired leaders in the United States government, but his deeply felt memoir of family and war is not a political one and ends before his election to Congress. With candor and ennobling power, McCain tells a story that, in the words of Newsweek, makes the other presidential candidates look like pygmies. John McCain learned about life and honor from his grandfather and father, both four-star admirals in the U.S. Navy. This is a memoir about their lives, their heroism, and the ways that sons are ...
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John McCain is one of the most admired leaders in the United States government, but his deeply felt memoir of family and war is not a political one and ends before his election to Congress. With candor and ennobling power, McCain tells a story that, in the words of Newsweek, makes the other presidential candidates look like pygmies. John McCain learned about life and honor from his grandfather and father, both four-star admirals in the U.S. Navy. This is a memoir about their lives, their heroism, and the ways that sons are shaped and enriched by their fathers. John McCain's grandfather was a gaunt, hawk-faced man known as Slew by his fellow officers and, affectionately, as Popeye by the sailors who served under him. McCain Sr. played the horses, drank bourbon and water, and rolled his own cigarettes with one hand. More significant, he was one of the navy's greatest commanders, and led the strongest aircraft carrier force of the Third Fleet in key battles during World War II. John McCain's father followed a similar path, equally distinguished by heroic service in the navy, as a submarine commander during World War II. McCain Jr. was a slightly built man, but like his father, he earned the respect and affection of his men. He, too, rose to the rank of four-star admiral, making the McCains the first family in American history to achieve that distinction. McCain Jr.'s final assignment was as commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. It was in the Vietnam War that John McCain III faced the most difficult challenge of his life. A naval aviator, he was shot down over Hanoi in 1967 and seriously injured. When Vietnamese military officers realized he was the son of a top commander, they offered McCain early release in an effort to embarrass the United States. Acting from a sense of honor taught him by his father and the U.S. Naval Academy, McCain refused the offer. He was tortured, held in solitary confinement, and imprisoned for five and a half years. Faith of My Fathers is about what McCain learned from his grandfather and father, and how their example enabled him to survive those hard years. It is a story of three imperfect men who faced adversity and emerged with their honor intact. Ultimately, Faith of My Fathers shows us, with great feeling and appreciation, what fathers give to their sons, and what endures. From the Hardcover edition.
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Faith of My Fathers is a memoir of Arizona senator and 2008 Republican presidential candidate John McCain. In this inspirational book, we learn about his childhood, his years in high school and at the Naval Academy, and the five years he spent as a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. We also learn about his father and grandfather, both of whom served in the US Navy in World War II. I have read many political and military memoirs, and this one is definitely my favorite. While most of the book is serious, there are numerous instances of humor. This moving book is an authentic testament to American patriotism, courage, sacrifice, and honor. Highly recommended.
mocha
Apr 23, 2008
An important read.
With the upcoming elections for President, I think this is an important read for all voters. It was an inspiring book that shows how our background, upbringing and family all influence us, especially in a time of crisis. Truely a great family that has provided an important service to our country. There were also interesting historical facts that made the reading much more interesting.
piafinn
Mar 20, 2008
P.O.W.
John McCain has a distinguished military pedigree. Both his father and grandfather were four-star admirals in the U.S. Navy. He himself was a naval aviator who saw action in Vietnam. He was also involved in the horrible fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. This book has great war stories from both his grandfather and father. McCain tells of the difficulties and humiliations of the naval academy and the problems involved in having famous relatives. Many thought he expected a free ride. The largest section of the book covers his time as a P.O.W. in North Vietnam, for 5 1/2 years, the things he endured and the friendships he made. His father would go as close to the DMZ once a year, and look across the border and think of his son. I'm sure what he experienced there affected his views of foreign policy. I think his experience will benefit him if he becomes President. As for the title, which is a line from a hymn about being imprisoned for one's faith, it's not really appropriate. The book is more about the "faithfulness" of his father and grandfather, than about their "faith". Also, he was married to a different woman at the time he was a P.O.W. so he doesn't really mention much about his marriage.
Dmarie
Mar 19, 2008
John McCain's Chronicle of Honor
3/19/2008: Can anyone stop a war by shouting, "Don't Support The War?"-No. Does voting to stop a War succeed?-No. Why? Because Terrorism and Evil is just as disciplined as Goodness, Virtue and Honor. THAT is what creates War. Once a country has decided that it is going to try to control it's inhabitants by Evil means, Goodness, Virtue, and Honor, are moved in Persons with Power to be able to stop the Evil. Can everyone see the real fight? No. Not everyone knows what Goodness, Virtue, and Honor is -according to Political Structure.This book defines what all those qualities are and what they have meant for centuries,if not throughout the entire Cycle of Humanity. Nor do most Americans understand how disciplined the attackers using Evil means are.Their calculated devising of breaking one person down after another is frightening, as it isn't until you are a Prisoner of War that they show you how long it is that they have planned on you. They know exactly how much to do, when, and whether it will produce the breaking of one's resistance. What they don't know is whether you will recover and move forward.This book doesn't comment extensively regarding the North or South Vietnamese - yes the fight was about the land, but the real message here is about how one American Family fights to protect America. Communism, as the motivator of the war in Vietnam, was not a silent, hidden, attacker. It did attempt to be a magician, however, constantly creating confusion to near insanity so that most just couldn't cope with identifying and fighting it's Characters-who don't hesitate at any humiliation, degradation, or dehumanization to break the Character of American Honor. It creates such terror and upset that most Persons would try to escape, even if they died in the attempt, as Senator McCain witnessed. He knew the fight within warfare was to prove which side held the most strength of convictions by the number of Americans able to be broken-in the hope that Goodness, Virtue, and Honor would never be regained. He personally was attacked and went through the proving of His own American Values- every morning for nearly two years of being beaten repetitively (mostly on the head and body), when he was already so injured and without medical care for most of the time, that it is Amazing Grace that he didn't die. He was in the POW camp for five and one half years total. During that time he and many of his fellow Americans generate and interdepend on each other's Goodness, Virtue, and Honor, as well as their memories of their forefathers and friends that made examples for them to follow. It supports them whenever other Americans are tortured into compliance, whenever They are tortured into compliance-because they are only Human with only so much strength to fight at times. What leads to such strength and conviction to be able to survive such torturous conditions? Is it the generations of Fighter's for Freedom in Senator McCain's Family-first in Ireland, then in a newly created America? John McCain's Father and Grandfather were both 4 star Generals in our American Navy. His main remembrances of them were of Goodness, Virtue, and Honor and how they applied themselves with that in mind always. When you read their individual stories of their exploits in the Armed Services, many times you will feel warm, you might even chuckle at their down-to-earth, sometimes even wild personality traits and habits. I read this book as the Grandmother that I am and I saw in this book, the capability of teaching our young what it means to apply American Virtues to situations in everyday life. What types of situations call for Honor, and, when you have done something you may have difficulty forgiving yourself for, does it mean you are lacking Goodness? This book has exponential potential in use for teaching all students from K-College and beyond. Limitless opportunies to be able to discuss what it really means to be an American-and-how you can recognize when someone isn't going to even want to be called one. Senator McCain's candor is Honest. I felt as though he was inviting me into his Family and allowing even himself to be bared to the quick so that I might believe that America was really my home and to cultivate for our future and our World, Virtue, Goodness, Honor-and Trust. Many of our American Families have suffered devisive techniques that emanate from anti-American forces right here on our own turf. This book gives us hope that with all the insight that our Leaders, such as John McCain, have been given, we will be able to identify the Powers that try to wear us down, Expose, and, Conquor them, to make America stronger and more United in the future.
