Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir

In this presidential election year of 2008, it is imperative to read books written by the candidates in order to assess strengths and weaknesses. I have lived thru more than 16 presidential elections, heard promises that were never kept, suffered thru wars, recessions, triumphs and terrorist attacks on our soil. Before I vote as an independent, I intend to do a lot of research. I have read memoirs by both candidates, listened to their speeches, looked at body language, and am trying to form a fair and balanced opinion. In this honest autobiography by the maverick, Senator John McCain, a former Naval aviator and prisoner of war for more than five years in Vietnam, I discovered why this man feels he is capable of leading our country. He reveals amazing stories about his famous grandfather and his father and their considerable contributions as navy commanders in world wars and also Vietnam and Korea. He explains his desire to honor their heroic deeds and values. The McCain family has a long military history. You will read about life in the naval academy in Annapolis over the decades, and how officers are trained and about McCains in leadership and combat roles. John McCain was shot down during the Vietnam war and placed in solitary confinement,was tortured and in intense pain, even near death, yet he remembered the courage and committment of his father and grandfather McCain and vowed to honor them with his patriotism. Only in this book can you really discover the worldview of a McCain. The book is riveting and filled with information about war and courage under fire. McCain describes his shortcomings,temper and outrage at injustice during his first thirty-four years. He never portrays himself as a hero. You will read about the Vietnam war from a different perspective. Read this book not for inspiration, but to increase your knowledge, no matter who you vote for. See what motivates John McCain today. He has lived a life of adventure, service to his country in the Senate, and been unafraid to speak his mind. Before I cast my vote tho, I have decided to read his sequel to this book to see if he has made changes in his temperment.

This reader has voted for the Democrat in all of the nine previous elections. In 2008, this is about to change. Not for the party, but for the man. And for the country. Today, John McCain has what he and his fellow students at the Naval Academy called "Good Grease". As McCain talks about in his discussion of his family's military history, the McCains are what Evan Thomas has described in Newsweek as "part of a warrior caste that has been fighting America's battles for more than two centuries". McCain covers his family's military history in America, and takes the reader through his grandfather, John "Slew" McCain's years in the Naval Academy, and those of his own father, and their subsequent careers. John McCain freely admits his weaknesses and flaws as well as his strengths. Reading this book, I took from it a tale of a man growing from being a rebel to being an independent leader, while still holding on to a cetain amount of that rebel. In later years, this would serve him well. "Faith Of My Fathers" covers John's inspiration he took from his fellow prisoners in Hanoi. A tale that has made the rounds of many chain e-mails is the story he tells in full detail of fellow prisoner Mike Christian, who had sewn a crude U. S. Flag on the inside of his jacket, and used it for his fellow prisoners to recite the Pledge of Allegience each day. I served in the Navy in the early 1970s, and I remember when they also trained us on the Code of Conduct for Prisoners of War. Reading his book, I became aware that there is really no adequate training that can fully prepare any man for imprisonment by an enemy during a war. But there is a Code of Conduct to point the way. The man who was formed in the crucible of war and imprisonment also knows what's expected of the brave men and women of our Armed Forces in these times. And he PERSONALLY knows exactly what the next Commander-In-Chief will be required to ask of them. "Faith Of My Fathers" is the story of how a family heritage, John McCain's own rebelliousness, and his imprisonment in North Vietnam, and the inspiration he took from his fellow prisoners there, all combined to forge the man he is today. If he becomes our next President, this is a great insight into the mind of the man who could be our next Commander-In-Chief. I highly recommend this book, and this life-long Democrat also endorses John McCain for President in 2008. This man has The Right Stuff. Doug Peschka U. S. Navy Veteran

I decided to read this book after returning from a trip to Vietnam during which we visited the "Hanoi Hilton", (aka Hỏa Lò Prison) where John McCain spent a portion of his 5 years as a POW. The memorabilia and historical displays at the museum are clearly propaganda, showing the prisoners decorating a Christmas tree, playing ball, writing letters to family.... not at all the deprivation and mistreatment that we all know occurred in the POW facilities. The first half of the book covers the long history of McCain's grandfather and father in their distinguished naval careers, both of whom achieved the rank of 4-star admirals. McCain's father was promoted to CINCPAC, commanding the entire Pacific Fleet during the final years of the Vietnam War while his son was still in prison. McCain knew from an early age that he would follow in the footsteps of these proud men. The military life was all they knew. He was quite frank about his behavioral issues and low academic achievement during his time at the Naval Academy, but managed to do just enough to make it through and become a naval pilot. He openly admits that during his time at the Academy he embarked on a "four-year course of insubordination and rebellion." McCain writes that "the most important lesson I learned there was that to sustain my self-respect for a lifetime it would be necessary for me to have the honor of serving something greater than my self-interest." The second half of the book covers the 5 years that McCain spent as a POW in Hanoi. He wrote in excruciating detail about the suffering from his serious injuries, the lack of medical treatment, the starvation, solitary confinement, as well as emotional and physical abuse and torture. He spares no detail in an unflinching, almost dispassionate voice. The most interesting part of the POW experience was the manner in which the POW’s communicated by tapping out words in code, and how important that connection was to them. The prison guards knew that the single thing that would break down a man more than physical abuse was depriving them of interaction and communication with other prisoners. McCain speaks with gratitude and warmth of other faithful prisoners who demonstrated courage and fortitude – the bonds they formed during imprisonment are unlike any other. McCain and his co-writer Mark Salter have written 6 books together, and it’s impossible to know which words belong to which writer, however the end result is a seamless story well told. The only criticism of “Faith of My Fathers” is that the time-line, particularly during the prison years, is somewhat disjointed. Rather than maintaining a chronological flow, the book jumps around a bit, resulting in quite a bit of repetition. Nevertheless, it is a moving story of endurance and the indomitable human spirit to survive.

I was concerned this book may be a bit political, but it wasn't. I was also concerned of the POW torture descriptions, but it's pretty G rated. McCain tells an interesting story, tracing his family heritage to parts of our history I had no idea they impacted. Being a female, the actual nuts and bolts of the ships and seafaring made me skip a few paragraphs here and there, but the overall story was fantastic. McCain tells many ancedotes about his family history and his own at the Naval Academy, and I laughed out loud many times as I read the book. My husband kept asking me, "What are you reading?" I had no idea he was such a good storyteller. Regardless of your political beliefs, I think most people would find this book entertaining and informative. My favorite part was the telling of Pearl Harbor history from his grandparents' time and how the officers would receive visitors from the new arrivals and they would present themselves with notes on a tray with both women and men wearing formalwear. It is such a history lesson of social classes, too. Very interesting!

Whatever you think of John McCain as a politician and Senator from Arizona, when you consider what he gave for this country as an airman you know as a Citizen he is nothing less than a hero. This autobiography tells the story of the McCain men from the Senator's grandfather and his important role in WWII and standing on the deck of the USS Missouri during the ceremony of the surrender of Japan. They named a destroyer after him. It also tells the story of the Senator's father and his career, which reached its peak when he was appointed CINPAC (Commander In Chief - Pacific). He had the operational command of aspects of the Vietnam War. His character is shown when he responded to duty by calling air strikes on Hanoi while his son (Senator McCain) was a prisoner there. The book also tells us about Senator McCain's youth and academic carelessness, but also shares with us the heroism of the prisoners of war in Hanoi and how they survived. He tells us of his own ordeal, but in more reserved tones than a third party biography would. He does reveal deep emotion towards certain of his captors who were responsible for sadistic torture. This is a very moving book and while people feel differently about Senator McCain's politics, we should all be grateful to the McCain family for their generations of dedication and for the Senator's personal sacrifice for our country. It is a VERY good read and a very moving story. Five stars.

Inspirational well written account of the Life of John McCain. Authors personal history provides perspective to the events of Vietnam and McCain's inspiration to provide leadership and service to others. Very engaging and thought provoking description of his history. I had read this years ago and my daughter requested it for a High School history report on the life of a famous person. She enjoyed the book and has a greater appreciation for the sacrifice service members and POWs make for their nation. The faith of our fathers credits the spiritual foundation gained in early life for providing direction for success later in life. This book has inspired her to consider a career in service to the nation. She said she could no longer think about juts going to college to get a job. she wants to do something worthwhile for others. Recommended to anyone interested in learning more about John McCain or how one man dealt with life's challenges.

I had mixed feelings about McCain going into this book. I finished it, and in some ways I am more confused. Not because the book wasn't clarifying -- it added ALOT to my picture of McCain. The problem is that the more you know him the more complicated you realize he is. This is NOT your typical ghost written 'campaign' autobio. (though I'm sure his help from Mark Salter was considerable). This is a VERY honest and revelatory account of his pre-political life and that of his family. He is open, shockingly so, about his morally questionable adventures --- womanizing, partying, brawling, rebelliousness, lack of respect for some authority figures. I don't think he hid much. And he's not really very apologetic in the end. His attitude seems to be "this is what I've done. I've grown up, but I'm still that guy in some ways. Take it or leave it." And some of that persona is truly exceptional, and pretty attractive. He is very bright. Very, very, very fearless, roughed. A real patriot. His torture experiences may or may not make him more qualified for president, but they certainly show him to be courageous beyond imagination. That he had a clear OUT and didn't take it after several years of staggering abuse..... Just stunning. Don't think this book made me more or less likely to vote for him. But it was the best political autobio I have read in awhile.

An important story, told with grace, humility, and much appeal. This book reveals the strengths and the depth of this remarkable American--from a great family of leaders. From his father and his grandfather (and his mother), John Sidney McCain III learned about the things that matter, the lasting virtues: faith, honor, loyalty, truth-telling, devotion to a worthy cause greater than oneself. Through it all, McCain shows how he grew from an attractive but rather self-centered and superficial young man to someone of stature and real wisdom, much of it learned the (very) hard way. Some of the stories here are deeply moving: the prisoners' Christmas, for example, or the guard who marks a cross in the dust at McCain's feet. This is a book that should prompt personal and even national self-examination of our core values: who we are, what we stand for, and where we want to go. Highly recommended: indeed, a NECESSARY read.

Loved every word

An excellent read!

The pain and suffering endured by US military aircrew (and others) held in North Vietnam's infamous Hanoi Hilton and other Prisoner of War camps is the backdrop to this excellent, modestly written book charting 3 generations of the McCain family who all held high rank in the US Navy. I would recommend it on several levels - to those interested in naval/aviation history; to philosophers, and to those inspired by human courage and fortitude. (I would also recommend Jim Stockdale's book 'A Vietnam Experience' for further tales of courage in the face of inhuman barbarism.)

Excellent condition; great fast service; book arrived on time no probs

A grear book.