[antimedia] FW: Thirty-four years ago today -- Pass this along to your friends

Sun Mar 18 23:10:40 EDT 2007

Joe Vasey met John McCain (on behalf of his father, who was in Washington,
as I recall) when McCain arrived in Honolulu from Vietnam, after his
release.
Phil

  _____  

From: Joe Vasey [mailto:JoeVasey at hawaii.rr.com] 
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2007 8:41 PM
To: Phil Gevas
Subject: Fw: Thirty-four years ago today -- Pass this along to your friends

 <http://link.johnmccain.com/?95-388-291062-2414>  

Non sibi sed patriae, not self but country, is often mentioned as an
unofficial motto of the United States Navy. Being a Marine, I have always
been more partial to Semper Fidelis, but I have had the honor and privilege
of serving in the company of Navy men for whom that motto, whether official
or not, is a way of life. My friend and former cellmate in Vietnam, John
McCain, is one of those men. 

 <http://link.johnmccain.com/?95-388-291062-2414>  Thirty-four years ago
today, on March 14, 1973, John McCain and hundreds of other prisoners of war
were released from Hanoi and began the trip home. My repatriation from Hanoi
was a week earlier, having been shot down a year before John. I will never
forget the feeling of relief and joy upon stepping into an American aircraft
with my fellow countrymen to begin that journey home. 

Things could have been very different for John. The son and grandson of Navy
Admirals, the North Vietnamese quickly realized when they captured him that
they had a special prisoner from a distinguished military family. In an
effort to embarrass us and our country, they offered John early release.
John consistently refused those offers, understanding that freedom without
honor was not worth having. He kept faith with us, his fellow POWs, and
stood by the Code of Conduct through which we pledged "I will accept neither
parole nor special favors from the enemy." Because of his dedication to
principle, the North Vietnamese made his life a living hell for a number of
years. 

I was fortunate to know John in prison, and we have remained the closest of
friends. His refusal of early release, his constant resistance, and his
undying sense of humor were traits we all admired. We were inspired by his
commitment to honor and encouraged by his sense of humor. His commitment to
principles, straight talk, and honesty in Washington continues to inspire us
today. I could never have imagined all those years ago that one day the man
sharing a concrete slab for a bed next to me would be a candidate for
President of the United States. I am very proud to stand next to him today. 

As our country battles a new kind of evil and our fighting men and women
take the battle to the terrorist, making incredible sacrifices in their
efforts, I think back to those days in Hanoi, back to the experiences that
have shaped my life ever since. My friend, John, has been tested through
circumstance and fire, has met the challenge, and he is prepared to lead
America in difficult times ahead. No one is better qualified to be Commander
in Chief. He has made me proud over the years, and I know he will do the
same for us all as President. 

Today is a special day for John and hundreds of us who were POWs in Vietnam.
I hope you will join me in remembering those who have served this great
country, especially those who today fight for our freedom and safety in
foreign lands. We are proud of their service. We honor their sacrifice, and
look forward to the day their mission is accomplished and they too will
return with honor. 

Sincerely, 

  <http://www.johnmccain.com/images/email/orsen_sig.jpg> 
Orson Swindle
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps (ret)
POW 1966-1973 

PS - Please take  <http://link.johnmccain.com/?95-388-291062-2414> a moment
to watch this video. 

  _____  

Please visit this  <http://link.johnmccain.com/?95-388-291062-2416> page if
you want to remove yourself from the email list.

Paid for by John McCain 2008  .  www.JohnMcCain.com
<http://link.johnmccain.com/?95-388-291062-2415> 

Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal
income tax purposes. Federal Election Law requires us to report the name,
address, occupation, and employer for contributions aggregating in excess of
$200 in an election cycle. The maximum an individual may contribute is
$2,300 for the primary election and an additional $2,300 for the general
election. Couples may contribute $4,600 for the primary and general
elections, respectively. Federal PACs may contribute $5,000 for each
election. Contributions from corporations, labor unions, federal government
contractors, national banks, and foreign nationals without permanent
residency status are prohibited.	
  <http://link.johnmccain.com/?95-388-291062-2413> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.powerblogs.com/pipermail/antimedia/attachments/20070318/6b8740fe/attachment.htm 