Tag Archive: Purple Hearts

VFW Remembers Sen. John McCain

A life member of Arizona VFW Post 7401

The 1.7 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Auxiliary are saluting the life of one of their own, U.S. Sen. John S. McCain III, who died this evening, Aug 25. of brain cancer. “The senator is being remembered as a maverick at the U.S. Naval Academy, as a naval aviator, as a five and a half-year prisoner of war, and as a two-term U.S. congressman and six-term U.S. senator from Arizona,” said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence. “But we remember Senator McCain as a 32- year Life member of VFW Post 7401 in Chandler, Ariz., and as a staunch supporter of a strong military as well as a champion for our troops, our veterans and their families.”

To recognize that support, McCain was a two-time VFW national award recipient, having been presented the VFW Americanism Award in 1992 and VFW Congressional Award in 1995. He also shared in the receipt of the VFW Armed Forces Award in 1971, which was presented (in absentia) to American POWs in Vietnam. McCain retired from the Navy in 1981 at the rank of Captain. His numerous military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, two Legion of Merits, Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Star Medals, two Purple Hearts, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and the Prisoner of War Medal.

(From VFW National web site)

JBLM Honors Vietnam Vets

JBLM Honors Vietnam VetsMost of you missed it but for those Vietnam vets who did attend, it was an event you’ll never forget. All of the service branches were present and they were excellent hosts. Plus, it was just great being around so many veterans who served in Vietnam. General Barry McCaffrey was the keynote speaker and a veteran of Vietnam, serving three tours and the recipient of two Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts, and two Distinguished Service Crosses. I’m not sure you can find a better advocate of the Vietnam veteran than General McCaffrey. Personally, it was interesting going back to a place I had gone through Basic Training. The reception getting off the bus was a bit better this time.