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The Two Men Who Saved McCain's Life in That Cell

September 04, 2008 11:10 PM

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told his moving POW story, including this passage: "I was dumped in a dark cell, and left to die. I didn't feel so tough anymore. When they discovered my father was an admiral, they took me to a hospital. They couldn't set my bones properly, so they just slapped a cast on me. When I didn't get better, and was down to about 100 pounds, they put me in a cell with two other Americans. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't even feed myself. They did it for me. I was beginning to learn the limits of my selfish independence. Those men saved my life."

Those two men, if you were wondering, were George "Bud" Day and Norris Overly.

And neither of them thought McCain would make it.

Day is at the GOP convention, incidentally.

- jpt

September 4, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (52)

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What a great man of exemplerary character!

Given the choice between a do nothing Washington insider and a completely inexperienced elitist compared to a team of mavericks, I'll go for the team that's called out their own party.

McCain-Palin 2008

Posted by: John | Sep 5, 2008 5:27:45 PM

Even his own POWS don't like McCain. "Vietnam Veterans Against McCain!!!" What do THEY have to say about "their friend" John.

Posted by: argh! | Sep 5, 2008 12:37:57 PM

The only man who "saved" McCain was his interrogator Bui Tin, who McCain steupfyingly EMBRACED at the POW hearings while berating and screaming at the familes of POWS who were in tears begging McCain NOT to close the investigation into the demise of or reported cases of some still surviving POWS being sold as slave labor to countries like China, Russia, and other parts of Southeast Asia WHERE THEY REMAIN TO THIS DAY!!! (American Free Press) Maybe that is why McCain has repeatedly flown into a rage when POWS have asserted that they were interrogated by Soviets while in captive. I don't know what McCain is trying to hide, but it sure STINKS something awful. And I would vote for the second coming of Herbert Hoover before I give my vote to that despicable individual of the worst kind, named John McCain.

Posted by: argh! | Sep 5, 2008 12:36:02 PM

Thank you for saying that, CDS. Most combat veterans, myself included, do not want to talk about their experiences. While I honor what McCain endured for his country, I am turned off by the endless exploitation of that experience for political gain. It cheapens what all combat veterans endured.

Posted by: Doc DB | Sep 5, 2008 12:18:13 PM

The "Swiftboaters" decidedly did NOT tell lies. They told the truth by the ACTUAL men who commanded, served with and served under John Kerry. It is only revisionists on the left and the media (which I know is redundant) that have woven the "lying" tale. Read the book Unfit for Command. Kerry is the biggest Elmer Gantry of American politics, but is soon to be eclipsed by "The Annointed One".

Posted by: SlouchingtowardBoulder | Sep 5, 2008 12:18:02 PM

Bud Day is the most highly decorated living military person - active or retired - in America. Medal of Honor winner. Incredible Patriot. Graduate of my alma mater - the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. You know, one of those "small towns".

Posted by: SlouchingtowardBoulder | Sep 5, 2008 12:15:59 PM

McCain has every right to tell his POW story. Not only did he suffer for 5 years (what have you done of significance for this country for even ONE DAY?), he did it for service. As did all veterans, and it would not be enough to thank them every single day. It is what these brave men and women have done that allows you to sit at your computer and freely insult them. YOu OWE all these veterans your gratitude, so you have a lot of nerve sitting there saying you are tired of his stories. What story do YOU have to tell of what you have done for your fellow man?

mcCain's and Cindy's life stories brought me to tears. Lives of service, think of how many lives they have changed? And the legacy continues with their children committment to service as well. Palin's son is deploying to Iraq also, God bless them all.

Obama? went to a racist and antiAmerican church for 20 years. Has done nothing for the service of this country ("community organizer" nobody knows what that is. Is that even a job at career day?).

Who is the patriot? Who is the hero? It astounds me that anyone can even think of being in the same room as that trash Obama, much less voting for him.

Posted by: decentAmerican | Sep 5, 2008 11:45:08 AM

"Turns out she need a 5th year of college and was either unemployed or working as a sportscaster and or part time fishing. Are you impressed, self-adoring right wing patriots?"

Yes. Ever had to work your way through college? Palin comes across as normal, fun and capable. After all of the shrews we've been dealt, she IS the change we've been waiting for.

Sara Smile!

Posted by: len | Sep 5, 2008 10:46:33 AM

God Bless George "Bud" Day and Norris Overly!!!!

America owes you a debt of gratitude!!!! Thank you for everything you've done!

Posted by: D'Obama | Sep 5, 2008 10:36:20 AM

God bless these two former POWs for their service and sacrifice and for saving John McCain's life so that he could live to serve another day.

McCain = Country First
Obama = Obama First

Posted by: marylou | Sep 5, 2008 9:35:47 AM

I believe the GOP truly thinks they have a winning strategy by putting lipstick on an old elephant and let that trumpet ‘Change’ as loud as it can.

Cartoonists will have a fieldday with this in the coming days.

Nobody will be fooled.

Their ‘solutions’ are still the same and we already know they didn't work.
Lipstick won't cut it.

Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Sep 5, 2008 6:42:30 AM

I wonder if we could just write-in Hillary's name on the election ballot. I wonder what the rules are.

Posted by: kathy | Sep 5, 2008 2:33:37 AM

anon

wel Obama is so smart it seems he outsmarted himself... hes history as of this point too bad for u!

Posted by: staniam | Sep 5, 2008 2:23:06 AM

I am so tired of John McCain's POW story. Nam is over people. Right here in America we have soilders who sacrified life limb and healthy minds return home in order to end their lives. The soilders we should be paying attention to are the men and women coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan to end their lives by committing suicide. Snap out of it America we have a new generation returning to American soil to die. No more about McCain the war hero. What about our next generation of leaders?

Posted by: clarity | Sep 5, 2008 1:46:28 AM

A low performer both as
a student and later as a
navy fighter pilot, McCain
has built his whole persona
on false POW torture stories shamelessly promoting
himslef as a war hero and
guardian of the nation's
security. And he continues
with the blatant charade
without end.

Posted by: anon | Sep 5, 2008 1:12:21 AM

anon

forget it... Obama didnt pay homage to Hillary well enough therefore he will not win and will not get my vote... cease and desist...

Posted by: stanaim | Sep 5, 2008 1:05:10 AM

Will somebody tell me just what the heck "voted with Bush x% of the time" even means?! You can't vote "with" the president, as he doesn't actually vote, nor does he introduce legislation. Furthermore, as Bush rarely utilized the veto, pretty much any legislation that passed must have been a vote "with" Bush, regardless of political affiliation.

So what the heck is this talking point really suggesting? That he voted with the Republican party most of the time? How many politicians don't vote with their party most of the time?

Frankly, this whole "voted with Bush" business is one of the dumbest political tropes I've ever encountered.

Posted by: capital L | Sep 5, 2008 1:03:04 AM

McCain is still milking his
bogus POW stories for all
they are worth. Not a word
he has said about his
mistreatment during captivity
is true.

Posted by: anon | Sep 5, 2008 12:56:22 AM

At least John McCain HAS a real life story to tell.

Obama always seems to have someone else's............................

Posted by: Lee | Sep 5, 2008 12:54:44 AM

OMG!!! McCain was a POW??!!??

Why didn't somebody tell me??!!??

Posted by: pedestrian | Sep 5, 2008 12:50:51 AM

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