McCain Soldiers On

OCTOBER 26 marked the 40th anniversary of the day John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam. How do you commemorate an occasion like that? Another politician might have made a big deal of it-Bill and Hillary Clinton have held gala celebrations for less-but McCain does things a bit differently. As this day begins, he is walking into a small room in a slightly tattered Clarion Hotel here in Sioux City, playing second fiddle to a fellow POW and local legend, Col. George E. “Bud” Day. The two men stand under a big blue banner that reads, “Siouxland Salutes Colonel Bud Day and John McCain,” and McCain spends most of his time talking not about himself, but about Day.

“Bud Day was the most steadfast, the most inspirational, and the toughest of anybody,” McCain says of his former cellmate. Day returns the compliment, calling McCain “one of the most courageous people that you will ever meet.” The two men are looking forward to a day of traveling together to small, town hall-style meetings around northwest Iowa. It’s nothing grand; lately, some of McCain’s critics have accused him of trying to exploit his war-hero past, but as exploitation goes, this is pretty small stuff.

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Byron York

Byron York is a former White House correspondent for National Review.

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John McCain

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OCTOBER 26 marked the 40th anniversary of the day John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam. How do you commemorate an occasion like that? Another politician might have made a big deal of it-Bill and Hillary Clinton have held gala celebrations for less-but McCain does things a bit differently. As this day begins, he is walking into a small room in a slightly tattered Clarion Hotel here in Sioux City, playing second fiddle to a fellow POW and local legend, Col. George E. “Bud” Day. The two men stand under a big blue banner that reads, “Siouxland Salutes Colonel Bud Day and John McCain,” and McCain spends most of his time talking not about himself, but about Day.

“Bud Day was the most steadfast, the most inspirational, and the toughest of anybody,” McCain says of his former cellmate. Day returns the compliment, calling McCain “one of the most courageous people that you will ever meet.” The two men are looking forward to a day of traveling together to small, town hall-style meetings around northwest Iowa. It’s nothing grand; lately, some of McCain’s critics have accused him of trying to exploit his war-hero past, but as exploitation goes, this is pretty small stuff.