CIA Reports on POW John McCain

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23 May 2008. Add transcriptions of four documents from Operation Just Cause: http://www.ojc.org/

22 May 2008

CIA FOIA (http://www.foia.cia.gov/) release of reports on North Vietnamese POW John McCain.

HAVANA GRANMA PULISHES INTERVIEW WITH U.S. POW MCCAIN-MEETING BETWEEN SPANISH P Created: 2/6/1970 [5 pages] Transcription by Cryptome (Aided by transcription at http://www.newtotalitarians.com/JohnMcCainAsPOW.html)

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6 Feb 70 NORTH VIETNAM GRANMA PUBLISHES INTERVIEW WITH U.S. POW McCAIN Havana GRANMA 24 Jan 70 p 7 [Text] Dr. Fernando Barral, a Spanish psychiatrist residing in Cuba, returned last week from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam where he was invited; and in his notebook he brought back some journalistic news: an interview with a North American pilot captured in the DRV after bombing Hanoi on 26 October 1967. The meeting between him and the pilot took place in an office of the Committee for Foreign Cultural Relations in Hanoi. The pilot interviewed is Lt Cmdr John Sidney McCain, son and grandson of American Navy admirals. His father, as the Yankee prisoner declared, is higher ranking than General Abrams, who commands the Yankee aggressor troops in South Vietnam; despite this, Johnson gave orders directly to Abrams, passing over McCain's father, who has a long history of services of aggression in Korea, among other imperialist merits. As is seen, Lt Commander John Sidney has a very good name... Following are the notes from Dr. Barral's interview with the Yankee pilot: Could you tell me your name serial number, and rank? "My name is John Sidney McCain and I am a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy-- serial No. 624787." He added: "I understand and speak some Spanish. I studied it in school and I have been in Spain several times. On one of those occasions I visited the Naval Academy and met Prince Carlos…" In the course of the interview, on various occasions he showed that knowledge of the language, saying some words, dates, and so forth in Spanish, or [using it] when he thought the interpreter was seeking the corresponding French word. Naturally, from the very beginning this established a more direct communication between us, and more than one question or my response was made directly in Spanish. [End page 1]

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Immediately afterward I asked him about the date and circumstances of his capture. "On 26 October 1967 I was overflying Hanoi in an A4E plane based on the carrier Oriskany when my plane was hit by a ground-to-air-missile. "I bailed out, colliding in the air with the remains of the plane, and I landed in one of the lakes in the center of Hanoi, in the middle of the water. On landing I tried to get free of my parachute, but I could not move, and I did not realize why I could not move my arms or legs, but it was because of the injuries." Injuries? "Yes, as a result of colliding with the remains of the plane, I fractured my right leg at the knee, and both arms, the right one in three places. Moreover, I dislocated both shoulders." When he told me this I superficially examined his ability to move his arms, which is almost unrestricted (only he has some difficulty bending his arm all the way). Also his grip is normal. Aside from this, he uses a crutch on the right side only, which shows normal functional ability of the extremity most affected by the traumatism. What happened next? That is, what was the capture itself like? "Well, many people gathered around since it was the center of Hanoi at midday." Soldiers, militiamen, or civilians? "I could not determine exactly, because they had removed their clothing in order to take me out of the water." Well, go on. "From there, they took me to a military hospital in Hanoi, a large hospital where they operated on me and attended to the multiple fractures. I understand I received more than a liter of blood..." Were you the object of any physical or moral violence? "No, although at the time of capture I could sense the peoples' hate or indignation, there were no insults of violence of any type. On the contrary, you have seen how I am recovering from my injuries." But were you not afraid of being the object of violent treatment if you were captured…? "Actually, I never thought I would become a prisoner; therefore those fears never came up." Did you never think of the possibility of being captured? "No, I was traveling at a high altitude. I felt completely safe in the plane…I am considered one of the best pilots..." We had closed one subject, between sips of coffee enjoyed equally by the pilot and me, but the cakes and oranges have not been touched. I motioned to the pilot, and I began to peel an orange. Soon afterward, we reopened the conversation. [End page 2]

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What led you to join the U.S. Navy? "Mainly for a family reason, since I have many relatives in that branch of service. In particular, my grandfather was outstanding in World War II; he was one of those who made the Japanese sign the act of surrender, and a Naval destroyer bears his name. And my father is also an admiral; he is chief of the Pacific Command of the U.S. Armed Forces. Actually, it is a matter of military tradition. One of my forebears was a colonel in Washington's independence forces. Another was a general in the war of secession. Thus it was natural for me to follow a military career. Of course my father was not always an admiral; during World War II he was commander of a submarine. He has been in the navy since 1927 and has been an admiral since 1965. He holds the highest rank in the navy. If I had not been downed, I would have become an admiral at an earlier age than my father. Theoretically, General Abrams is his subordinate...." Theoretically? "Yes, although in practice, because of the importance of this war, Gen Creighton Abrams receives his orders directly from Washington." I do not understand this about "in theory and practice." I thought that in military life everything is standardized in an inflexible manner.... "Well, look, in fact Abrams is his subordinate but since the Tet offensive of 1968, in view of the gravity of the situation, Abrams, instead of asking for instructions from my father, who is in Honolulu, so that he in turn would ask for them from Washington, went directly to Washington for them because the war is here in Vietnam and my father also has Okinawa, Korea, and so forth under his command. That is why, since the war is so important, he receives his instructions directly from Washington. It is a political problem also, not only military." Well, let us leave these things about political and military aside. They are too complex. At any rate I do not believe that your father likes the situation very much; that his subordinates receive orders directly from above. He make an expressive gesture but does not go further into the subject; rather he takes a tangent. "Look, my father is a very intelligent person, but... when the bombings of the north began, Johnson asked Abrams' [as published] opinion; not my father's because Abrams was in Saigon, in the war..." "Now I am going to speak about my wife," he says spontaneously. "She is not in the armed forces," he added with a certain humor. "I saw her the last time in August 1967. At that time I was on the aircraft carrier Forrestal. When a fire broke out which damaged it heavily and it had to be sent for repairs to the United States. At that time I miraculously escaped with my life because I was in my airplane and the two pilots on my left and two on my right were killed." How did that happen? "A plane caught fire and one of its rockets went off. This in turn caused other explosions. There were 135 deaths, almost all the airplanes were destroyed, and the ship was seriously damaged. As a result of the fire I became famous on TV." [End page 3]

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As one who miraculously escaped death, no? "Yes, but in addition I was able to see my family and stay there nearly a month. I then returned this time to the aircraft carrier Oriskay and one month later I was shot down." You said that you were going to talk to me about your wife but you continue on the subject of the war... He smiles as he becomes aware that he drifted from the subject and adds: "She is very pretty. Before marrying me she was a model for magazines and on TV. We have a 3-year-old girl. When I saw her she was still a baby. She also has two children from a former marriage. She has now returned to work as a model on TV." How did you find this out? "I had a letter from her after I became a prisoner." ?? [as published] "Yes, they authorized me to receive a letter and presents on Christmas Eve and I was able to send greetings cards." Would you like me to relay a message for you? "If you would be so kind. Tell her I am well, that I wish her happiness, and not to worry about me." The address? "Her name is Carol McCain, Mrs. Carol McCain. She lives in...." It is difficult for me to understand the address and I ask him to write it in my notebook. He writes with his left hand: Mrs Carol McCain, 553 Fatio Lane, Orange Park, Florida, USA [address as published]. I explain that I will not see her personally but that I will relay the message. What schooling did you have? "I went to the Naval Academy. I took two university majors, electrical engineering and naval architecture. The courses were very difficult; 1,200 of us began and only 400 graduated. Discipline was very strict also. I was also in the Spanish Naval Academy. It was there that I met Prince Carlos, as I said before. When I finished I had two choices: to be naval officer or a pilot…I chose to be a pilot. I had to study another year and a half and I graduated in 1958. I trained intensively. I flew many hours in training to become a jet pilot." Many? "Yes, 4,000. They really only demand 200 but I flew 4,000 hours." ?? [as published] "I wanted to become a test pilot. It is fascinating to test the new models." [End page 4]

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At any rate the difference between 200 and 4,000 appears to be great. "Well, look, it was because I wanted to be a astronaut. That is why I also engaged in a great deal of sports; boxing, wrestling, swimming, camping, and so forth." And what happened? "I had to come to Vietnam." What is your religion? "I am a Protestant." Being in captivity, has your faith increased? Do you have hopes for the future? "My beliefs have always been more or less of the same intensity. As long as the war lasts I do not have much hope for the future." From the psychological point of view, Dr. Barral has the following opinion of the personality of the prisoner who is responsible for many criminal bombings of the people of DRV: He showed himself to be intellectually alert during the interview. From a morale point of view he is not in traumatic shock. He is neither dejected nor depressed. He was able to be sarcastic, and even humorous indicative of psychic equilibrium. From the moral and ideological point of view he showed us he is an insensitive individual without human depth, who does not show the slightest concern, who does not appear to have thought about the criminal acts he committed against a population from the almost absolute impunity of his airplane, and that nevertheless those people saved his life, fed him, and looked after his health, and he is now healthy and strong. I believe that he bombed densely populated places for sport. I noted he was hardened, that he spoke of banal things as if he were at a cocktail party. During the interview he quietly drank three cups of coffee and smoked one of the cigarettes the Vietnamese had placed on the central table. The idea of interviewing this pilot occurred to me while I was returning from the Fourth Zone of the DRV, Quang Binh Province leveled by the bombings. I was sick of seeing destruction of a people of such tremendous moral fiber. Here I thought that I ought to meet one of the pilots. What would they be like, I wondered--the perpetrators of the destruction, of the savagery? I had come to Vietnam in response to an invitation and my intention was to investigate the traditional [social] structures and social change in Vietnam. But when I interviewed a young militiawoman with a rifle and a smile and she told us about her humble and heroic life, I saw that the bombings had awakened her sense of hate and action, but not fear. It was clear to me that that girl's moral process and conscience--in her capacity as a prototype of her people--were not the result of chance or the mechanical reaction to aggression, but were the very deep-rooted result of a unique social system and subsequent ideological work. There I also felt the need to study others who, with their modern techniques and "superiority" had not been able to deter the Vietnamese people, Dr. Barral concluded. [End page 5]

Other CIA Releases on POW John McCain

In reverse chronological order of creation.

REPORTS ON POW CONDITIONS IN HANOI-MENTIONS FLYNN PETER-MCCAIN Created: 2/20/1973 [1 page]
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GEN CREIGHTON ABRAMS CONSULTS AND RECEIVES ORDERS FROM WASHINGTON WITHOUT GOING Created: 1/24/1970 [1 page]
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HAVANA GEN CREIGHTON ABRAMS CHIEF OF THE US FORCES IN VIETNAM-INTERVIEW BETWEEN Created: 1/24/1970 [2 pages]
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EDITORIAL RECALLED IN YEAR NOV 66-NOV 67 NUMBERS OF ENEMY LOSSES-WORKERS Created: 1/17/1968 [2 pages]
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REPORTER INTERVIEWS POW'S, ADMIRAL'S SON-ARTICLE WRITTEN BY FRENCH TV REPORTER Created: 1/3/1968 [1 page]
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ARTICLE WRITTEN BY FRENCH TV REPORTER CHALAIS FRANCOIS TITLED LIFE IN HANOI-MEN Created: 1/1/1968 [3 pages]
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Transcription from Operation Just Cause: http://www.ojc.org/powforum/capital/mccain/680101.htm
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
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BEIRUT L'ORCENT IN FRENCH 29 DEC 67 P 1 M
(ARTICLE IN SERIES WRITTEN BY 'PROMINENT' FRENCH TELEVISION REPORTER FRANCOIS CHALAIS--AN EXCLUSIVE TO L'ORIENT--TITLED 'LIFE IN HANOI' AND DESCRIBING THE REPORTER'S ONE-MONTH VISIT TO NORTH VIETNAM. DATE IF VISIT NOTT GIVEN. THE SERIES WAS ANNOUNCED 25 DECEMBER AND BEGAN 27 DECEMBER. THIS INSTALLMENT IS TITLED 'THE U.S. PRISONERS DO NOTT UNDERSTAND')
(EXCERPTS)(PASSAGE OMITTED) I MZT SOME AMERICANS IN HANOI--PILOTS OFTEN WOUNDED, HAVING EJECTED FROM THEIR PLANES. THEY--LIKE THE VIETNAMESE THEY ARE MASSACRING, BUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS--DO NOTT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THEIR THINKING:
'WE WILL REBUILD YOUR BRIDGES.' TO THIS PILOT, SOMEONE HAS BROUGHT PICTURES OF DESTROYED BRIDGES. DO YOU RECOGNIZE THESE BRIDGES? YES, SAYS THE PILOT, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MY WORK. (PASSAGE OMITTED) THEN HE IS SHOWN THE SAME PICTURES, TAKEN A SHORT WHILE BEFORE, THE FIRST FIRST PICTURES--ED.) THESE PICTURES SHOW MANY BODIES--SEVERAL 9S83-SCATTERED AROUND THE BRIDGE. IS THIS ALSO YOUR WORK? THE AMERICAN HESITATES, THEN SAYS: IT IS NOTT MY FAULT IF PEOPLE ARE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO PASS OVER BRIDGES WHILE I AM BOMBING. SOON HE ADDS: MOREOVER I DO NOTT UNDERSTAND YOU. YOU HAVE ONLY TO STOP THE
ACT. .DIA-15
INFO. . .CSAF-1 FILE-1(17)CAC/JP
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WAR: AS SOON AS YOU DO SO WE WILL REBUILD YOUR BRIDGES. (PASSAGE OMITTED) MY FATHER IS A MULTIMILLIONAIRE. I WILL PAY YOU FOR THEM. (PASSAGE OMMITTED)
ANOTHER PILOT IS INJURED. THE DOCTOR ASKS HIM HOW HE FEELS. HE REPLIES: WELL. BUT I MUST TELL YOU SOMETHING DOCTOR. YOU ARE ALL QUITE KIND, BUT YOUR MEDICINES ARE WORTHLESS. ONLY AMERICAN MEDICINES ARE GOOD. YOU ARE DOING WHATEVER YOU CAN, BUT COMPARED TO THE U.S. DOCTORS, YOU ARE ONLY BEGINNERS. THEREFORE THIS IS WHAT I SUGGEST: WE HAVE CLARKIBASE IN THE PHILIPPINES WHERE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THAT IS NEEDED. YOU LET ME GO THERE AND AS SOON AS I RECOVER I WILL RETURN HERE TO GIVE MYSELF UP. (PASSAGE OMITTED)
DOWNED U.S. PILOTS ENERGETICALLY REFUSE TO ADMIT THAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN SHOT DOWN BY VIETNAMESE PILOTS--AN INDERIOR SPECIES IN THE MINDS OF AMERICAN PILOTS. NO, THEY WERE HIT BY SAM MISSILES OR BY ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTERIES--BUT NEVER BY MIG PILOTS. ONE PILOT, FOR EXAMPLE, IS GIVEN ALL THE PROOF THAT HE WAS HIT BY ONE OF HIS VIETNAMESE COUNTERPARTS. HE DEFENDS HIMSELF VEHEMENTLY. NEVERTHELESS, HHERE ARE IRREFUTABLE PICTURES. THEY EVEN BRING TO HIS HOSPITAL BED THE PILOT WHO DOWNED HIS PLANE. THE AMERICAN STILL HESITATES, THEN SAYS: I WOULD NEVER BELIEVED IT, BUT EVIDENTLY IT IS AS YOU SAY. (PASSAGE OMITTED)
A MEETING WHICH WILL LEAVE ITS MARK ON MY LIFE:
MY MEETING WITH JOHN SIDNEY MCCAIN WAS CERTAINLY ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS WHICH AFFECT ME MOST PROFOUNDLY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I HAD ASKED THE NORTH VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW ME TO PERSONALLY INTERROGATE AN AMERICAN PRISONER. THEY AUTHORIZED ME TO DO SO. WHEN NIGHT FELL, THEY TOOK ME--WITHOUT PRECAUTIONS OR MYSTERY--TO A HOSPITAL NEAR THE GIA LAM AIRPORT RESERVED FOR THE MILITARY (PASSAGE OMITTED) THE OFFICER WHO RECEIVES ME BEGINS: I ASK YOU NOTT TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF POLITICAL NATURE. IF THIS MAN REPLIES IN A WAY UNFAVORABLE TO US, THEY WILL NOTT HESITATE TO SPEAK OF 'BRAINWASHING' AND CONCLUDE THAT WE THREATENED HIM. (PASSAGE OMITTED)
THIS JOHN SIDNEY MCCAIN IS NOTT AN ORDINARY PRISONER. HIS FATHER IS NONE OTHER THAN ADMIRAL EDMOND JOHN MCCAIN, COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF U.S. NAVAL FORCES IN EUROPE. (PASSAGE OMITTED) IN A WEAK VOICE, HE RELATES HIS STORY TO ME: I WAS CARRYING OUT A BOMBING MISSION, MY 23D TWENTYTHIRD RAID, OVER HANOI. IT WAS THEN
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THAT I WAS HIT. I WANTED TO EJECT BUT WHILE DOING SO I BROKE BOTH ARMS AND MY RIGHT THIGH. UNCONSCIOUS I FELL IN A LAKE. SOME VIETNAMESE JUMPED INTO THE WATER AND PULLED ME OUT. LATER I LEARNED THERE MUST HAVE BEEN ABOUT 12 OF THEM. THEY IMMEDIATELY TOOK ME TO HOSPITAL, IN CONDITION TWO INCHES AWAY FROM DEATH. A DOCTOR OPERATED ON MY THIGHT. OTHERS AT THE SAME TIME DEALT WITH MY ARMS.
HOW ARE YOU TREATED HERE?
VERY WELL. EVERYBODY IS VERY NICE TO ME.
HOW IS THE FOOD?
HE SMILES FEEBLY. OBVIOUSLY, THE LEAST REACTION HURTS HIM. THIS ISN'T PARIS, BUT IT IS ALRIGHT.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO READ?
THEY HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I READ, BUT MY HANDS ARE UNABLE TO HOLD EVEN A NEWSPAPER.
HIS CIGARETTE HAS GONE OUT. HE TALKS TO ME ABOUT HIS WIFE WHO LIVES IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, AND ABOUT HIS THREE CHILDREN. AND NOW HE ADDRESSES HIS FAMILY: I KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO TURN OUT WELL. I HOPE THAT I WILL SEE YOU SOON. I WILL BE WELL. THIS IS AL PECEPEATS: THIS IS ALL. (PASSAGE OMITTED)
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FROM PRAVDA REVIEW-MISSILES IN THE AIR IS TITLE OF PRAVDA DISPATCH BY SHOEPHOV Created: 12/8/1967 [1 page]
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FBIS DISPATCH-REMARKS OF MCCAIN JOHN SYDNEY RE HIS CAPTURE AT TRUC BACH LAKE-HA Created: 11/13/1967 [3 pages]
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AN INTERVIEW W/TWO AMERICAN PILOTS SHOT DOWN OVER NORTH VIETNAM- MENTIONS JOHN Created: 11/10/1967 [2 pages]
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PARIS AFP BY EDUARD JOSEPH CABANES-HANOI PRESS QUOTES OF MCCAIN JOHN SYDNEY-ALS Created: 11/10/1967 [2 pages]
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INTERVIEW WITH TWO AMERICAN PILOTS SHOT DOWN OVER NORTH VIETNAM-MCCAIN FLYNN ME Created: 11/10/1967 [1 page]
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HANOI CORRESPONDENT'S DISPATCH IN ENGLISH TO PRENSA-U.S. PILOT MCCAIN CAPTURED Created: 11/9/1967 [3 pages]
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Transcription from Operation Just Cause: http://www.ojc.org/powforum/capital/mccain/671109.HTM
FBIS 50 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Hanoi Correspondent's Dispatch in English to Prensa Latina Havana 1205 CMT 9 Nov 67
(Text) Nhan Dan on 9 November carries a story about the U.S. Pilot McCain who was captured on 26 October after his plane had been shot down over Hanoi.
His flight on a raid against Hanoi was the first for him and his 23rd raiding flight over North Vietnam. McCain was very afraid of the (?Intense) antiaircraft network in Hanoi, which is not only (?Intense) but very accurate. That is why it became important. Three out of 25 aircraft of his group were downed. The United States in not able to bear it if out of every 25 aircraft three are downed, he said.
McCain stated: There is not any doubt for me; things are taking place in a favorable way for North Vietnam. In particular world opinion. At present, the United states is (?virtually) standing alone.'

[Image] Interview with McCain
Hanoi VNA International Service in French 1339 GMT 9 Nov 67 B
(Interview of American POW LT CDR John Sidney McCain published in 9 November Nhan Dan)
(Excerpt) Hanoi 9 November --/Passage Omitted on circumstances behind McCain's transfer from carrier Forrestal to Oriskany and his capture on Truc Bach Lake on 26 October 1967)
To a question of the correspondent, McCain answered: 'My assignment to the Oriskany, I told myself, was due to serious losses in pilots which were sustained by this aircraft carrier (due to its raids over North Vietnam territory--VNA) and which necessitated replacements. From 10 to 12 pilots were transferred like me from the Forrestal to the Oriskany. Before I was shot down we had made several sorties. Altogether I made about 23 flights over North Vietnam.'
McCain admitted that he participated five or six times in the attacks on the Haiphong sector.
Fear still clearly showed on his face when he recalled his disastrous sortie on 26 October against Hanoi. 'The briefing was held in the morning,' he said. 'That's right. I remember that it was the morning that they told me of the situation and the plan of the raid, which should take place about noon. A reconnaissance officer explained this plan to me. They showed me photographs of my target marked out the paths to be followed by the Oriskany at this point. They pointed out to me a number of antiaircraft positions near Hanoi and a number of possible rocket positions, the position of our rescue ships, the radio frequency, the composition of the flight, and so forth. Upon arrival near the target, our formation with six bombers, would mount the attack according to the following order: I would be number three, and the chief of the formation, number one. Each pilot would have to approach the target from a different direction, the choice of which would be left to [undecipherable].
'While moving toward the target, we stumbled over a very dense network of fire, a very powerful riposte. A few rockets were seen. Our chief turned to approach the target and I followed him at a distance. At the time when I was preparing to drop my bombs--I did not know whether or not I could drop them because things were happening too fast--I heard a terrible explosion which shook my plane and sent it toward the ground. It was hit so violently that I was thrown on my back and went straight toward the ground in this posture. I tried to pull the direction-stick

[Image] I do not know at what [undecipherable]
Naturally I felt buffeting because my bailing out was made at the time when the plane was falling too fast. When the parachute opened I looked down and found out I was going to fall into a lake. I was really lucky to be able to fall into a lake. All around me bombs were exploding while rockets and antiaircraft shells were streaking through the sky. I hit the lake and went to the bottom. While trying to return to the surface, I was seized by Vietnamese and pushed to the bank of the lake. They disarmed me and brought me to prison.' 'What do you think of Hanoi's fire barrage?' asked the Nhan Dan Correspondent.
McCain cried out: 'Very intense, very accurate. When a fire barrage is so accurate, one has to reckon with it. You are excellent artillerymen. Naturally, I have never seen such a fire network, because it was the first time I flew over Hanoi.'
'Were the pilots who had flown over Hanoi afraid of the firepower from the ground?'
'Yes, certainly!' McCain said, 'How lucky are those who do not have to come often to the Hanoi Sector. Very dangerous! Because they could very well be shot down, hit, something that no one wants! When I arrived near my target I saw two rockets streaking by my side, and it was terrible to see. They flew very fast, very strongly.'
Suddenly the air pirate was silent as if still obsessed by the memory of his disasterous sortie.
'For me,' he concluded, 'there is no longer any doubt. Things are taking place in a favorable opinion. The United States at present seems to be standing alone, so much is its isolation.'

HANOI PAPER FEATURES CAPTURED U.S. PILOTS-15 PILOTS NAMED-STAFFORD- SANTO-SCHOE Created: 11/8/1967 [2 pages]
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FBIS DISPATCH-MCCAIN ONE OF MANY PILOTS DOWNED OVER HANOI-FROM CARRIER ORISKANY Created: 10/31/1967 [1 page]
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HANOI IN ENGLISH TO AMERICAN SERVICEMENT IN S. VIETNAM-JOHN SYDNEY MCCAIN-FROM Created: 10/30/1967 [2 pages]
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Transcription from Operation Just Cause: http://www.ojc.org/powforum/capital/mccain/671031.htm
31 October 1967
"Hanoi in English to American Servicemen in South Vietnam
[Talk: 'From the Pacific to Truc Bach Lake']
[Text]" In his newest step of war escalation--successive air strikes at Hanoi city these days--Mr. Johnson has wasted scores of U.S. aircraft and pilots.
"Adding to the ever longer list of American pilots captured over North Vietnam was a series of newcomers. John Sydney McCain was one of them. Who is he? A U.S. Navy lieutenant commander. Last Thursday, 26 October, he took off from the carrier Oriksany for a raiding mission against Hanoi city. Unfortunately for him, the jetplane he piloted was one of the 10 knocked out of Hanoi's sky. He tried in vain to evade the deadly accurate antiaircraft barrage of fire of this city. A surface-to-air missile shot down his jet on the spot. He bailed out and was captured on the surface of Truc Bach Lake right in the heart of the DRV capital.
"What were the feats of arms which McCain achieved? Foreign correspondents in Hanoi saw with their eyes civilian dwelling houses destroyed and Hanoi's women, old folks, and children killed by steel-pellet bombs dropped from McCain's aircraft

[Image] and those of his colleagues.
"LtCom John Sydney McCain nearly perished in the conflagration that swept the flight deck of the U.S. carrier Forrestal last July. He also narrowly escaped death in Haiphong the Sunday before last but this time what must happen has happened. There is no future in it.
"McCain was married in 1965 to [name indistinct] and has a 10-month-old daughter. Surely he loved his wife and child. Then why did he fly here dropping bombs on the necks of the Vietnamese women and children?
"The killing he was ordered to do in Vietnam has aroused indignation among the world's peoples. What glory had he brought by his job to his father, Adm. John S McCain Jr., commander in chief of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe? His grandfather, Adm. John S. McCain, commander of all aircraft carriers in the Pacific in World War II, participated in a just war against the Japanese forces. But nowadays Lt. Com. McCain is participating in an unjust war, the most unpopular one in U.S. history and mankind's history too. This is Johnson's war to enslave the Vietnamese people.
"From the Pacific to Truc Bach Lake, McCain has brought no reputation for his family in the United States. The one who is smearing McCain's family honor is also smearing the honor of Washington's United States of America. He is Lyndon B. Johnson."

FBIS DISPATCH-CAPTURE OF MCCAIN, RICE-MENTIONS MCCAIN JOHN SYDNEY-RICE CHARLES Created: 10/27/1967 [1 page]
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FURTHER HANOI CORRESPONDENT'S DISPATCH ENGLISH PRENSA INTERVIEW WITH MCCAIN JOH Created: 10/11/1967 [3 pages]
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Transcription from Operation Just Cause: http://www.ojc.org/powforum/capital/mccain/671109.HTM
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
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HANOI VNA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE IN FRENCH 1339 GMT 9 NOV 67 B
(FURTHER B091315 HANOI CORRESPONDENT'S DISPATCH ENGLISH DRENSA LATINA 091205--SHORT VERSION NHAN DAN)
(FIRST OF TWO TAKES--INTERVIEW WITH MCCAIN)
(TEXT) HANOI, 9 NINE NOVEMBER--NHAN DAN TODAY PUBLISHED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY ONE OF ITS CORRESPONDENTS MADE BY A U.S. AIR PIRATE DETAINED IN NORTH VIETNAM.
HE IS LT CDR JOHN SIDNEY MCCAIN OF THE U.S. NAVY, SERIAL NUMBER 624787 SIXTWOFOURSEVENEIGHTSEVEN, CAPTURE IN THZ TRUC BACH LAKE IN HANOI 26 TWOSIX OCTOBER 1967 ONENINESIXSEVEN AFTER HE HAD BAILED OUT FROM HIS PLANE IN FLAMES. IT WAS FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER U.S. ORISKANY THAT HE TOOK OFF FOR THE LAST TIME. BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THIS SHIP IN OCTOBER 1967 ONENINESIXSEVEN, HE WAS AMONG THE PERSONNEL FLYING FROM ANOTHER AIRCRAFT CARRIER, THE FORESTAL. BECAUSE THE LATTER SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE LOSSES DUE TO A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION WHICH HAPPENED 29 TWONINE JULY 1967 ONENINESIXSEVEN, MCCAIN COULD TAKE LEAVE IN HIS NATIVE COUNTRY AS ONE OF
ACT:; DIA-15
INFO: CSAF-1 FILE:1 (19) ETO/WC
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Approved for Release
Date AUG 1987

[Image] DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
NATIONAL MILITARY COMMAND CENTER
MESSAGE CENTER
THE SURVIVORS. HOWEVER, HE COULD SPEND ONLY A FEW DAYS WITH HIS FAMILY, BECAUSE HE SOON RECEIVED AN ORDER TO REPORT URGENTLY TO THE ORISKANY WHERE HE WAS TO BE ASSIGNED. DURING HIS LEAVE, HE RELATED, HIS WIFE AND EVEN HIS FATHER IN HIS LETTERS ADVISED HIM TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL BECAUSE A GREAT NUMBER OF COFFINS OF AMERICAN MILITARYMEN KILLED IN VIETNAM HAD ALREADY ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES.
TO A QUESTION OF THE CORRESPONDENT, MCCAIN ANSWERED: 'MY ASSIGNMENT TO THE ORISKANY, I TOLD MYSELF, WAS DIE TO SERIOUS LOSSES IN PILOTS, WHICH WERE SUSTAINED BY THIS AIRCRAFT CARRIER (DUE TO ITS RAIDS ON THE NORTH VIETNAM TERRITORY--VNA)(BRACKETS AS TRANSMITTED) AND WHICH NECESSITATED REPLACEMENTS. FROM 10 ONEZERO TO 12 ONETWO PILOTS WERE TRANSFERRED LIKE ME FROM THE FORESTAL TO THE ORISKANY. BEFORE I WAS SHOT DOWN WE HAD MADE SEVERAL SORTIE. ALTOGETHER I MADE ABOUT 23 TWOTHREE FLIGHTS OVER NORTH VIETNAM.'
MCCAIN ADMITTED THAT HE PARTICIPATED FIVE OR SIX TIMES IN THE ATTACKS IN THE HAIPHONG SECTOR.
FEAR STILL CLEARLY SHOWED ON HIS FACE WHEN HE RECALLED HIS DISADTROUS SORTIE ON 26 TWOSIX OCTOBER AGAIN HANOI. 'THE BRIEFING WAS HELD IN THE MORNING,' HE SAID. 'THAT'S RIGHT. I REMEMBER THAT IT WAS IN THE MORNING THAT THEY TOLD ME OF THE SITUATION AND THE PLAN OF THE RAID, WHICH SHOULD TAKE PLACE ABOUT NOON. A RECONNAISSANCE OFFICER EXPLAINED THIS PLAN TO ME. THEY SHOWED ME PHOTOGRAPHS OF MY TARGET AND MARKED OUT THE PATHS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE ORISKANY AT THIS POINT. THEY POINTED OUT TO ME A NUMBER OF ANTIAIRCRAFT POSITIONS NEAR HANOI AND A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE ROCKET POSITIONS, THE POSITION OF OUR RESCUE SHIPS, THE RADIO FREQUENCY, THE COMPOSITION OF THE FLIGHT, AND SO FORTH. UPON ARRIVAL NEAR THE TARGET, OUR FORMTION WUTH SIX BOMBERS, WOULD MOUNT THE ATTACK ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING ORDER: I WOULD BE NUMBER THREE, AND THE CHIEF OF THE FORMATION, NUMBER ONE. EACH PILOT WOULD HAVE TO APPROACH THE TARGET FROM A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THE CHOICE OF WHICH WOULD BE LEFT TO HIM.
'WHILE MOVING TOWARD THE TARGET, WE STUMBLED OVER A VERY DENSE NETWORK OF FIRE, A VERY POWERFUL RIPOSTE. A FEW ROCKETS WERE SEEN. OUR CHIEF TURNED TO APPROACH THE TARGET AND I FOLLOWED HIM AT A DISTANCE. AT THE TIME WHEN I WAS PREPARING TO DROP MY BOMBS--I DID NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT I COULD DROP THEM, BECAUSE
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[Image] DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
NATIONAL MILITARY COMMAND CENTER
MESSAGE CENTER
THINGS WERE HAPPENING TOO FAST--I HEARD A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION WHICH SHOOK MY PLANE AND SENT IT TOWARD THE GROUN. IT WAS HIT SO VIOLENTLY THAT I WAS THROWN ON MY BACK AND WENT STRAIGHT TOWARD THE GROUND IN THIS POSTURE. I TRIED TO PULL THE DIRECTION-STICK TO REESTABLISH THE BALANCE OF MY PLANE BUT IT NO LONGER RESPONDED TO ME.
I CONTINUED TO DESCENT AT A DIZZY SPEED. THEN, I EJECTED MYSELF. I DO NOT KNOW AT WHAT ALTITUDE, BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN VERY LOW. NATURALLY I FELT BUFFETTING BECAUSE MY BAILING OUT WAS MADE AT THE TIME WHEN THE PLANE WAS FALLING TOO FAST. WHEN THE PARACHUTE OPENED, I LOOKED DOWN AND FOUND OUT THAT I WAS GOING TO FALL INTO A LAKE. I WAS REALLY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO FALL INTO A LAKE. ALL AROUND ME BOMBS WERE EXPLODING WHILE ROCKETS AND ANTIAIRCRAFT SHELLS WERE STREAKING THROUGH THE SKY. I HIT THE LAKE AND WENT TO THE BOTTOM. WHILE TRYING TO RETURN TO THE SURFACE, I WAS SEIZED BY VIETNAMESE AND PUSHED TO THE BANK OF THE LAKE. THEY DISARMED ME AND BROUGHT ME TO PRISON.' MORE 0913398 [ BLACKED OUT ] 11/1933Z
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HAVANA GRANMA PULISHES INTERVIEW WITH U.S. POW MCCAIN-MEETING BETWEEN SPANISH P Created: 2/6/1970 [5 pages]	Transcription by Cryptome (Aided by transcription at http://www.newtotalitarians.com/JohnMcCainAsPOW.html)
	6 Feb 70 NORTH VIETNAM GRANMA PUBLISHES INTERVIEW WITH U.S. POW McCAIN Havana GRANMA 24 Jan 70 p 7 [Text] Dr. Fernando Barral, a Spanish psychiatrist residing in Cuba, returned last week from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam where he was invited; and in his notebook he brought back some journalistic news: an interview with a North American pilot captured in the DRV after bombing Hanoi on 26 October 1967. The meeting between him and the pilot took place in an office of the Committee for Foreign Cultural Relations in Hanoi. The pilot interviewed is Lt Cmdr John Sidney McCain, son and grandson of American Navy admirals. His father, as the Yankee prisoner declared, is higher ranking than General Abrams, who commands the Yankee aggressor troops in South Vietnam; despite this, Johnson gave orders directly to Abrams, passing over McCain's father, who has a long history of services of aggression in Korea, among other imperialist merits. As is seen, Lt Commander John Sidney has a very good name... Following are the notes from Dr. Barral's interview with the Yankee pilot: Could you tell me your name serial number, and rank? "My name is John Sidney McCain and I am a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy-- serial No. 624787." He added: "I understand and speak some Spanish. I studied it in school and I have been in Spain several times. On one of those occasions I visited the Naval Academy and met Prince Carlos…" In the course of the interview, on various occasions he showed that knowledge of the language, saying some words, dates, and so forth in Spanish, or [using it] when he thought the interpreter was seeking the corresponding French word. Naturally, from the very beginning this established a more direct communication between us, and more than one question or my response was made directly in Spanish. [End page 1]
	Immediately afterward I asked him about the date and circumstances of his capture. "On 26 October 1967 I was overflying Hanoi in an A4E plane based on the carrier Oriskany when my plane was hit by a ground-to-air-missile. "I bailed out, colliding in the air with the remains of the plane, and I landed in one of the lakes in the center of Hanoi, in the middle of the water. On landing I tried to get free of my parachute, but I could not move, and I did not realize why I could not move my arms or legs, but it was because of the injuries." Injuries? "Yes, as a result of colliding with the remains of the plane, I fractured my right leg at the knee, and both arms, the right one in three places. Moreover, I dislocated both shoulders." When he told me this I superficially examined his ability to move his arms, which is almost unrestricted (only he has some difficulty bending his arm all the way). Also his grip is normal. Aside from this, he uses a crutch on the right side only, which shows normal functional ability of the extremity most affected by the traumatism. What happened next? That is, what was the capture itself like? "Well, many people gathered around since it was the center of Hanoi at midday." Soldiers, militiamen, or civilians? "I could not determine exactly, because they had removed their clothing in order to take me out of the water." Well, go on. "From there, they took me to a military hospital in Hanoi, a large hospital where they operated on me and attended to the multiple fractures. I understand I received more than a liter of blood..." Were you the object of any physical or moral violence? "No, although at the time of capture I could sense the peoples' hate or indignation, there were no insults of violence of any type. On the contrary, you have seen how I am recovering from my injuries." But were you not afraid of being the object of violent treatment if you were captured…? "Actually, I never thought I would become a prisoner; therefore those fears never came up." Did you never think of the possibility of being captured? "No, I was traveling at a high altitude. I felt completely safe in the plane…I am considered one of the best pilots..." We had closed one subject, between sips of coffee enjoyed equally by the pilot and me, but the cakes and oranges have not been touched. I motioned to the pilot, and I began to peel an orange. Soon afterward, we reopened the conversation. [End page 2]
	What led you to join the U.S. Navy? "Mainly for a family reason, since I have many relatives in that branch of service. In particular, my grandfather was outstanding in World War II; he was one of those who made the Japanese sign the act of surrender, and a Naval destroyer bears his name. And my father is also an admiral; he is chief of the Pacific Command of the U.S. Armed Forces. Actually, it is a matter of military tradition. One of my forebears was a colonel in Washington's independence forces. Another was a general in the war of secession. Thus it was natural for me to follow a military career. Of course my father was not always an admiral; during World War II he was commander of a submarine. He has been in the navy since 1927 and has been an admiral since 1965. He holds the highest rank in the navy. If I had not been downed, I would have become an admiral at an earlier age than my father. Theoretically, General Abrams is his subordinate...." Theoretically? "Yes, although in practice, because of the importance of this war, Gen Creighton Abrams receives his orders directly from Washington." I do not understand this about "in theory and practice." I thought that in military life everything is standardized in an inflexible manner.... "Well, look, in fact Abrams is his subordinate but since the Tet offensive of 1968, in view of the gravity of the situation, Abrams, instead of asking for instructions from my father, who is in Honolulu, so that he in turn would ask for them from Washington, went directly to Washington for them because the war is here in Vietnam and my father also has Okinawa, Korea, and so forth under his command. That is why, since the war is so important, he receives his instructions directly from Washington. It is a political problem also, not only military." Well, let us leave these things about political and military aside. They are too complex. At any rate I do not believe that your father likes the situation very much; that his subordinates receive orders directly from above. He make an expressive gesture but does not go further into the subject; rather he takes a tangent. "Look, my father is a very intelligent person, but... when the bombings of the north began, Johnson asked Abrams' [as published] opinion; not my father's because Abrams was in Saigon, in the war..." "Now I am going to speak about my wife," he says spontaneously. "She is not in the armed forces," he added with a certain humor. "I saw her the last time in August 1967. At that time I was on the aircraft carrier Forrestal. When a fire broke out which damaged it heavily and it had to be sent for repairs to the United States. At that time I miraculously escaped with my life because I was in my airplane and the two pilots on my left and two on my right were killed." How did that happen? "A plane caught fire and one of its rockets went off. This in turn caused other explosions. There were 135 deaths, almost all the airplanes were destroyed, and the ship was seriously damaged. As a result of the fire I became famous on TV." [End page 3]
	As one who miraculously escaped death, no? "Yes, but in addition I was able to see my family and stay there nearly a month. I then returned this time to the aircraft carrier Oriskay and one month later I was shot down." You said that you were going to talk to me about your wife but you continue on the subject of the war... He smiles as he becomes aware that he drifted from the subject and adds: "She is very pretty. Before marrying me she was a model for magazines and on TV. We have a 3-year-old girl. When I saw her she was still a baby. She also has two children from a former marriage. She has now returned to work as a model on TV." How did you find this out? "I had a letter from her after I became a prisoner." ?? [as published] "Yes, they authorized me to receive a letter and presents on Christmas Eve and I was able to send greetings cards." Would you like me to relay a message for you? "If you would be so kind. Tell her I am well, that I wish her happiness, and not to worry about me." The address? "Her name is Carol McCain, Mrs. Carol McCain. She lives in...." It is difficult for me to understand the address and I ask him to write it in my notebook. He writes with his left hand: Mrs Carol McCain, 553 Fatio Lane, Orange Park, Florida, USA [address as published]. I explain that I will not see her personally but that I will relay the message. What schooling did you have? "I went to the Naval Academy. I took two university majors, electrical engineering and naval architecture. The courses were very difficult; 1,200 of us began and only 400 graduated. Discipline was very strict also. I was also in the Spanish Naval Academy. It was there that I met Prince Carlos, as I said before. When I finished I had two choices: to be naval officer or a pilot…I chose to be a pilot. I had to study another year and a half and I graduated in 1958. I trained intensively. I flew many hours in training to become a jet pilot." Many? "Yes, 4,000. They really only demand 200 but I flew 4,000 hours." ?? [as published] "I wanted to become a test pilot. It is fascinating to test the new models." [End page 4]
	At any rate the difference between 200 and 4,000 appears to be great. "Well, look, it was because I wanted to be a astronaut. That is why I also engaged in a great deal of sports; boxing, wrestling, swimming, camping, and so forth." And what happened? "I had to come to Vietnam." What is your religion? "I am a Protestant." Being in captivity, has your faith increased? Do you have hopes for the future? "My beliefs have always been more or less of the same intensity. As long as the war lasts I do not have much hope for the future." From the psychological point of view, Dr. Barral has the following opinion of the personality of the prisoner who is responsible for many criminal bombings of the people of DRV: He showed himself to be intellectually alert during the interview. From a morale point of view he is not in traumatic shock. He is neither dejected nor depressed. He was able to be sarcastic, and even humorous indicative of psychic equilibrium. From the moral and ideological point of view he showed us he is an insensitive individual without human depth, who does not show the slightest concern, who does not appear to have thought about the criminal acts he committed against a population from the almost absolute impunity of his airplane, and that nevertheless those people saved his life, fed him, and looked after his health, and he is now healthy and strong. I believe that he bombed densely populated places for sport. I noted he was hardened, that he spoke of banal things as if he were at a cocktail party. During the interview he quietly drank three cups of coffee and smoked one of the cigarettes the Vietnamese had placed on the central table. The idea of interviewing this pilot occurred to me while I was returning from the Fourth Zone of the DRV, Quang Binh Province leveled by the bombings. I was sick of seeing destruction of a people of such tremendous moral fiber. Here I thought that I ought to meet one of the pilots. What would they be like, I wondered--the perpetrators of the destruction, of the savagery? I had come to Vietnam in response to an invitation and my intention was to investigate the traditional [social] structures and social change in Vietnam. But when I interviewed a young militiawoman with a rifle and a smile and she told us about her humble and heroic life, I saw that the bombings had awakened her sense of hate and action, but not fear. It was clear to me that that girl's moral process and conscience--in her capacity as a prototype of her people--were not the result of chance or the mechanical reaction to aggression, but were the very deep-rooted result of a unique social system and subsequent ideological work. There I also felt the need to study others who, with their modern techniques and "superiority" had not been able to deter the Vietnamese people, Dr. Barral concluded. [End page 5]