The rebellious naval officer who became
In short: Before he was a four-star admiral known as "Mr. Seapower," John S. McCain Jr. was a midshipman at risk of expulsion. A man of deep political influence and aggressive wartime tactics, his career spanned from the submarine depths of World War II to the highest levels of Pentagon diplomacy.
John Sidney McCain Jr. (1911–1rag1) was far from a model student at the U.S. Naval Academy. Entering in 1927 at just 16 years old, he struggled with the institution's strict behavioral codes. His time at Annapolis was marked by unauthorized midnight leaves, drinking during Prohibition, and accumulating enough demerits to jeopardize his graduation. He eventually finished 423rd out of 441 in his 1931 class.
Despite his academic mediocrity, McCain excelled in the high-stakes environment of submarine warfare. During World War II, commanding the USS Gunnel, he demonstrated an aggressive, improvisational style that contrasted with the rigid doctrine of many of his peers. His exploits included sinking several Japanese vessels, such as the 6,400-ton freighter Koyo Maru, and even attempting long-range attacks on aircraft carriers like the Zuihō.
His career was defined by both combat and political maneuvering. As Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Command from 1968 to 1972, he supported the Vietnamization policy and played a role in the 1970 Cambodian Incursion. Later, as a Rear Admiral in the late 1950s, he used his political connections in Washington, D.C., to advocate for Navy budgets, successfully persuading Congress to restore funding for aircraft carrier construction programs.
McCain's legacy is also one of familial continuity. He was part of the first father-son pair to both achieve the rank of four-star admiral, alongside his father, John S. McCain Sr. His son, John Sidney McCain III, would later become a prominent U.S. Senator and presidential nominee.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: John S. McCain Jr.
- Also: Wikidata — John S. McCain, Jr. · CC0
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