Senator John McCain Died Saturday Evening, 25 August

Capt MJ

Capt MJ

Serviam.
15-Year Member
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Sep 27, 2008
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There is so much on news links and social media, I’m not posting a link.

The man was a true hero, deserving of the term in its truest meaning. Regardless of whether you agreed with his politics or not, he served his country in uniform, as an elected representative, after going into harm’s way and suffering unspeakably as a Vietnam POW.

I understand he will be interred at the Naval Academy in a private service there, after the larger ones. No surprise he wanted to come back to a place he loved.

I have lost 3 friends to glioblastoma. It is insidious.
 
Capt MJ said:
There is so much on news links and social media, I’m not posting a link.

The man was a true hero, deserving of the term in its truest meaning. Regardless of whether you agreed with his politics or not, he served his country in uniform, as an elected representative, after going into harm’s way and suffering unspeakably as a Vietnam POW.

I understand he will be interred at the Naval Academy in a private service there, after the larger ones. No surprise he wanted to come back to a place he loved.

I have lost 3 friends to glioblastoma. It is insidious.
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His last speech to the brigade broke me. He knew it was his last. Black N* and all, an amazing and controversial man I enjoyed meeting in his informal New Hampshire coffee clatches.
 
It is truly amazing he made it through the Forrestal fire, much less everything else.
Rest in peace, Captain McCain.
 
Tremendous American, hero and Patriot. A gentleman and a leader. John McCain was a great alumni of the Naval Academy, but he was a friend to all of the academies, and service members. Our country will miss him indeed.
 
I first met him when he was still on Active Duty at a house party on Porter Road. He and a group of senior aviators, several of them ex-POWs decided to get
this poor innocent Ensign drunk and then proceeded to move over to the O Club for more of the same. I ran into him a few times over the years and got to
know him better in the late 90's when he started coming to NH to lay the groundwork for later election runs. Then when I went to USNA for my son's I-Day and
went to a alumni parent's reception, there he was and we hung out - two grads who were parents of class of '11 and saw him again at Parent's Weekend and so on.
I was always impressed with his candor and a sense that despite the wheeling & dealing of any politician, he also had deep down lines which he would not cross.

Fair Winds and Following Seas.
 
We are at USMA this weekend following the Ring Ceremony, an unfortunate time to be away from home in Arizona. Though our politics differed, I greatly respected Senator McCain and thought him a true hero and leader and a very good man. I think he showed great class right up to the end and very much approve his choice of eulogizers. I also pray for comfort for his family as they grieve their great loss
 
I think what has choked me up most was the audio clip, where, roughly phrased, he said “I want to go back to where it all began, where I can lie near the sycamore tree and look out at the water, and be close to my good friend Chuck Larson.” So simple, just a peaceful resting place for after a warrior’s fight is done, that hill on USNA’s Hospital Point, overlooking the Severn River.

That really got to me, as ADM Larsen was a mentor to me throughout my career, and brought me to USNA as a BattO, who also died too young, from leukemia and complications. ADM Larson shifted to the Democratic Party during a political run, and it’s typical of Sen McCain that his friendships transcended political affiliations.

https://goo.gl/images/ZufpHJ
 
Hospital Point and the USNA National Cemetery is a beautiful place. Look out over the waters and watch over all the MIDS to come Senator. RIP Senator. It may be private but I would suggest turn out the Brigade.
 
My thoughts exactly, @Capt MJ. Imagine 4,400 Mids lining the road from the gage to the cemetery, saluting Captain McCain as he makes one final pass through the Yard. I get chills thinking about the volley of guns firing a final salute, followed by “Taps” echoing across the Severn. I trust my Mid — along with all the others — will find inspiration in it all.
 
Speaking of chills...when I realized his final book, “The Restless Wave,” referred to the lyrics of “Eternal Father (Navy Hymn)”:
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave...
 
Met him at the funeral of another famous POW, Admiral James Stockdale; one of my Wing Commanders in the Air Force Reserve was Brigadier General Jim Sehorn who was a one time cellmate in the Hanoi Hilton. Great Americana and principled leader, the claims that he was a 'traitor' and 'ratted out his comrades' are disgusting and slanderous. RIP and fair winds sir.
 
Capt MJ said:
Speaking of chills...when I realized his final book, “The Restless Wave,” referred to the lyrics of “Eternal Father (Navy Hymn)”:
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave...
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I never served, but as high school kid I used to sing this a lot back when WWII vets were in their 40s and 50s. Still sing it to myself from time to time. It always brings a tear to my eye and is the most haunting melody I know. When done right it recalls the sound of the surf crashing on the beach. Times have changed but I think it sounds best when sung by an all male chorus - just my opinion of course and as long as women serve it SHOULD be a mixed choir. I never realized the connection. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
 
Eternal Father was always the best Hymn of all during Chapel Service. If they don't play it I will be upset. Will they have a service at the Chapel?
 
There are also verses for various branches - submariners, aviators, Marines, merchant mariners, etc.

It’s also sung in the UK.

Perhaps the USNA Glee Club will go to the National Cathedral to sing it...

So, I dug up one of my favorite videos, as my contribution to the grief process. It’s the Navy Hymn, but not in the Chapel or Concert Hall, but in USNA’s Memorial Hall, a very very special place. Midshipman, Captain and Senator McCain would have known it well.

 
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