I'm probably not going to vote for McCain in a primary, . . .

. . . but I will always consider him and all the other residents of the Hanoi Hilton true American heroes:

Thirty-four years ago today, on March 14, 1973, John McCain and hundreds of other prisoners of war were released from Hanoi and began the trip home. My repatriation from Hanoi was a week earlier, having been shot down a year before John. I will never forget the feeling of relief and joy upon stepping into an American aircraft with my fellow countrymen to begin that journey home.

Things could have been very different for John. The son and grandson of Navy Admirals, the North Vietnamese quickly realized when they captured him that they had a special prisoner from a distinguished military family. In an effort to embarrass us and our country, they offered John early release. John consistently refused those offers, understanding that freedom without honor was not worth having. He kept faith with us, his fellow POWs, and stood by the Code of Conduct through which we pledged "I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy." Because of his dedication to principle, the North Vietnamese made his life a living hell for a number of years.

Read the whole thing.

(Via Kathryn Jean Lopez at The Corner)

On a related note, I highly recommend the documentary Return With Honor, which recounts the horrific experiences and heroic actions of American prisoners of war in Vietnam.