[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 92 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        THE COMMISSIONING OF THE U.S.S. JOHN S. McCAIN (DDG-56)

  Mr. THURMOND. Madam President, on July 2, 1994, overshadowed by the 
pressing business of the Senate and the Fourth of July festivities, was 
the commissioning of the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke class destroyer, 
the U.S.S. John S. McCain (DDG-56). I want to take a moment of the 
Senate's time to bring this event to the Members' attention for two 
reasons: First, the ship is named after two great naval officers, Adm. 
John S. McCain, Sr., and Adm. John S. McCain, Jr. The second reason is 
that their grandson and son is our colleague from Arizona, Senator John 
S. McCain.
  Our Nation has been blessed with many great military families and the 
McCains of Mississippi can be listed as among the very best. The McCain 
name is on the roster of George Washington's staff; a McCain lost his 
life in the Civil War; a McCain was the Adjutant General of the Army 
during World War I, while another McCain fought with General Pershing 
in Mexico and also rose to the rank of general. Although the 
accomplishments of any of these McCain men would have been enough to 
have a ship named after them, it took the father-son team of John 
Sidney McCain, Sr. and John S. McCain, Jr. to achieve that distinction.
  Adm. John S. McCain Sr., the grandfather, graduated from the Naval 
Academy in 1906. He began his career by sailing around the world with 
President Roosevelt's Great White Fleet. His subsequent assignments 
took him to all parts of the globe in peace and war, including a tour 
as director of Machinist Mates School in Charleston, SC. In 1936 at the 
prime age of 52, he became a naval aviator--a record that still stands. 
During World War II he served with great distinction throughout the 
Pacific theater and won the Navy Cross. He was among the distinguished 
group of officers who witnessed the signing of the Japanese surrender 
on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri. A comrade-in-arms said of him: ``I 
think he was the finest man I ever met. We would have done anything for 
him.''
  John S. McCain, Jr., the father of Senator McCain, followed in his 
father's footsteps and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1931. Unable 
to get into flight school because of a medical condition, he became a 
submariner. He commanded three submarines during World War II and was 
awarded the Silver Star for his exploits. We all remember him as the 
commander-in-chief, Pacific during the height of the Vietnam conflict 
from 1968 to 1972. More importantly than the litany of command and 
promotions was Jack McCain--the thinker, the speaker, and the naval 
leader. In a superb biographical sketch of the McCain family, the 
Senator's brother Joe attributed the following quote which best 
describes the philosophy of his father: ``Life is run by poker players, 
not the systems analyst.''
  In the same loving tribute to his forbears, which is contained in the 
commissioning program for the U.S.S John S. McCain, Joe McCain makes 
the following statement about the two admirals:

       If the two warriors could gaze upon this great new man-of-
     war--and perhaps they can--they would be very honored. 
     Honored, but humbled. For they were always not a little 
     embarrassed at honors given them. They just wanted to get the 
     job done.

  What higher tribute can be given to any man?
  Madam President, in further recognition of the lives of Adm. John S. 
McCain, Sr., and Adm. John S. McCain, Jr., President Bush was the 
commissioning speaker and our colleagues' lovely wife, Cindy McCain, is 
the sponsor for the U.S.S. John S. McCain.
  Madam President, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating our 
colleague and good friend, John McCain, for this well deserved honor 
that our Nation has bestowed on his family. We wish both him and the 
U.S.S. John S. McCain the best.

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