Editing John McCain (section)

=== Naval training, first marriage, and Vietnam War assignment ===

[[Early life and military career of John McCain#Naval training, early assignments, first marriage, and children|McCain began his early military career]] when he was commissioned as an [[Ensign (rank)#United States|ensign]], and started two and a half years of training at [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]] to become a naval aviator.<ref name="alexander-32">Alexander, ''Man of the People'', p. 32.</ref> While there, he earned a reputation as a man who partied.<ref name="ap-wmd">Woodward, Calvin. [https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-11-03-998821539_x.htm "McCain's WMD Is A Mouth That Won't Quit"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315155128/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-11-03-998821539_x.htm |date=March 15, 2012 }}. [[Associated Press]]. ''[[USA Today]]'' (November 4, 2007). Retrieved November 10, 2007.</ref> He completed flight school in 1960, and became a naval pilot of [[ground-attack aircraft]]; he was assigned to [[A-1 Skyraider]] squadrons<ref>McCain, ''Faith of My Fathers'', p. 156.</ref> aboard the [[aircraft carrier]]s {{USS|Intrepid|CV-11|6}} and {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}}<ref name="feinberg">Feinberg, Barbara. ''John McCain: Serving His Country'', p. 18 (Millbrook Press 2000). {{ISBN|0-7613-1974-3}}.</ref> in the [[Caribbean Sea|Caribbean]] and [[Mediterranean Sea]]s.<ref name="timberg-bio">Timberg, ''American Odyssey'', pp. 66–68.</ref> McCain began as a sub-par flier<ref name="timberg-bio" /> who was at times careless and reckless;<ref name="lat100608" /> during the early to mid-1960s, two of his flight missions crashed, and a third mission collided with power lines, but he received no major injuries.<ref name="lat100608">Vartabedian, Ralph and Serrano, Richard A. [https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-aviator6-2008oct06,0,876358,full.story "Mishaps mark John McCain's record as naval aviator"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021160309/http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-aviator6-2008oct06,0,876358,full.story |date=October 21, 2008 }}, ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' (October 6, 2008). Retrieved October 6, 2008.</ref> His aviation skills improved over time,<ref name="timberg-bio" /> and he was seen as a good pilot, albeit one who tended to "[[Flight envelope|push the envelope]]" in his flying.<ref name="lat100608" />

[[File:McCainWithSquadron.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|alt=Four military pilots posed in, on, or in front of, silver jet with United States markings|Lieutenant McCain (front right) with his squadron and [[T-2 Buckeye]] trainer, 1965]]

On July 3, 1965, McCain was 28 when he married [[Carol Shepp]], who had worked as a runway model and secretary.<ref name="dmr-mccain">[http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=caucus&template=detail&candidate=mccain "John McCain"]{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''Iowa Caucuses '08'', ''[[The Des Moines Register]]''. Retrieved November 8, 2007.</ref> McCain adopted her two young children, Douglas and Andrew.<ref name="feinberg" /><ref name="alexander-92">Alexander, ''Man of the People'', p. 92</ref> He and Carol then had a daughter, Sidney.<ref>Alexander, ''Man of the People'', p. 33</ref><ref name="nyt122707">Steinhauer, Jennifer. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/us/politics/27mccainkids.html "Bridging four Decades, a Large, Close-Knit Brood"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829223159/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/us/politics/27mccainkids.html |date=August 29, 2018 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (December 27, 2007). Retrieved December 27, 2007.</ref> The same year, he was a one-day champion on the game show [[Jeopardy!|''Jeopardy''!]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-06-30-2937395846_x.htm |title=McCain recalls loss on ''Jeopardy!'' |last=Fouhy |first=Beth |work=[[USA Today]] |date=June 30, 2008 |access-date=June 3, 2013 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006103643/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-06-30-2937395846_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

McCain requested a combat assignment,<ref>McCain, ''Faith of My Fathers'', pp. 167–68.</ref> and was assigned to the aircraft carrier {{USS|Forrestal}} flying [[A-4 Skyhawk]]s.<ref>McCain, ''Faith of My Fathers'', pp. 172–73.</ref> [[Early life and military career of John McCain#Vietnam operations|His combat duty]] began in mid-1967, when ''Forrestal'' was assigned to a bombing campaign, [[Operation Rolling Thunder]], during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="dmr-mccain" /><ref name="mccain-185">McCain, ''Faith of My Fathers'', pp. 185–86.</ref> Stationed in the [[Gulf of Tonkin]], McCain and his fellow pilots became frustrated by micromanagement from Washington; he later wrote, "In all candor, we thought our civilian commanders were complete idiots who didn't have the least notion of what it took to win the war."<ref name="mccain-185" /><ref name="Karaagac">Karaagac, John. ''John McCain: An Essay in Military and Political History'', pp. 81–82 (Lexington Books 2000). {{ISBN|0-7391-0171-4}}.</ref>

On July 29, 1967, McCain was a [[lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]] when he was near the center of the [[1967 USS Forrestal fire|USS ''Forrestal'' fire]]. He escaped from his burning jet and was trying to help another pilot escape when a bomb exploded;<ref name="nyt073167">Weinraub, Bernard. [http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/flash/politics/20080203_MCCAIN_TIMELINE/content/pdf/19670731b.pdf "Start of Tragedy: Pilot Hears a Blast As He Checks Plane"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229220753/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/flash/politics/20080203_MCCAIN_TIMELINE/content/pdf/19670731b.pdf |date=December 29, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (July 31, 1967). Retrieved March 28, 2008.</ref> McCain was struck in the legs and chest by fragments.<ref name="timberg-73">Timberg, ''American Odyssey'', pp. 72–74.</ref> The ensuing fire killed 134&nbsp;sailors.<ref name="ff-178">McCain, ''Faith of My Fathers'', pp. 177–79.</ref><ref name="DANFS">US Navy [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f3/forrestal.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships – Forrestal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320002709/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f3/forrestal.htm |date=March 20, 2008}}. States either Aircraft No.&nbsp;405 piloted by LCDR Fred D. White or No.&nbsp;416 piloted by LCDR John McCain was struck by the Zuni.</ref> With the ''Forrestal'' out of commission, McCain volunteered for assignment with the {{USS|Oriskany}}, another carrier employed in Operation Rolling Thunder.<ref>Timberg, ''American Odyssey'', 75.</ref> There, he was awarded the [[Navy Commendation Medal]] and the [[Bronze Star Medal]] for missions flown over North Vietnam.<ref name="ap050708" />