Maine Coastal News: 2010 05

Page 18. MAINE COASTAL NEWS May 2010

N a u t i c a l B o o k R e v i e ws

A LEADER BORN, THE LIFE OF ADMIRAL JOHN SIDNEY MCCAIN, PACIFIC CARRIER COMMANDER

By Alton Keith Gilbert 2006; 274 pages; $32.95 Casemate, Philadelphia

Today if you mention John S. McCain everyone would think we were talking about Senator John McCain of Arizona and former

presidential candidate. If I said not that one, most would have no idea who we were talking about unless they knew their U. S. Naval history.

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John S. McCain would be the Senator’s grandfather. He grew up on a plantation in Teoc, Mississippi and went to school at nearby Carrollton. He began college at the University of Mississippi. One of the family’s tradition had been a career in the Army beginning with attendance at West Point. John took the U. S. Naval Academy’s entrance exam and scored so well he decided to attend. He was a popular student and his dorm room was a hang out for his followers. Unfortunately he was not very studious and would graduate from there in 1906 in the bottom quarter of his class. His first assignment was on the Asiatic Station and served on board the battleship OHIO, cruiser BALTIMORE, and gunboat PANAY. There was always interesting stories throughout McCain’s career. One that happened on board the OHIO was a problem with sailors

sleep on deck due to the hot weather. While they were carrying the a coffin with a deceased admiral in it to Japan, McCain took a black cat, twisted its tail, and tossed it on the casket. The cat elicited an incredible screech clearing the deck of all sailors. McCain left the Asiatic fleet in 1908, boarded the battleship CONNECTICUT and returned to the United States. Just after returning he married Katherine D. Vaulx, which was one of his former professors at the University of Mississippi. McCain continued serving about large surface warships before coming ashore as officer in charge of the Machinists’ Mate School at Charleston, SC.

During World War I he was back aboard the cruiser COLORADO as engineering officer. He then went on board the cruiser SAN DIEGO on the West Coast and was on board when she joined the Atlantic Fleet. Fortunately he had left her before she hit a mine and was sunk off Fire Island. McCain was then at his new assignment in the Bureau

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of Navigation. He went back to sea for awhile, even was commanding officer of the freighter SIRIUS before heading to the War College at Newport, RI, and then returning to the Bureau of Navigation. He was also moving up in rank and by 1931 he had been promoted to captain. However, what was most important to his career was his pursuit to become a pilot at the age of 50. This opened up the opportunity to become an officer on board an aircraft carrier. As World War II approached McCain was passed over for promotion, but he pushed forward and finally was promoted to flag rank.

With the start of the war he was in position to be one of the major players in the Pacific Theater. He played a major role at Guadalcanal, back in Washington, DC, and then at the Philippines, especially Letye Gulf. Following the formal surrender McCain returned home totally fatigued and passed away.

This is a very interesting book about a very dedicated naval officer, who gave it all for this country.

SAILORS TO THE END, THE DEADLY FIRE ON THE USS FORRESTAL AND THE HEROES WHO FOUGHT IT

By Gregory A. Freeman 2002; 307 pages; $25.95 William Morrow, NY

Let us now discussed John S. “Slew” McCain’s grandson, Senator John S. McCain. Most know him politically, and

Continued on Page 22.

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