The third John Sidney McCain started out as an underachiever.

The first two John Sidney McCains both rose to become 4-star admirals in the Navy. But when John Sidney McCain III went to Annapolis, he didn’t do very well. He had a reputation of doing great at things he cared about, and horribly at things that didn’t interest him. As a result, he graduated 894 out of a class of 899.

He could be surly regarding authority. But he was well-liked by his classmates; he knew how to get along as a result of having attended 20 different schools as his father was shipped about. He was also tough and fair minded; he was a good wrestler and boxer, and wasn’t afraid to use those skills to protect anyone from a bully.

He was fearless but reckless. Upon graduating from the Academy, he went to flight training school in Pensacola, where he became a good pilot but a more impressive party boy. He was then assigned to fly off the aircraft carriers USS Intrepid and USS Enterprise in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. He pushed the envelope too often: he crashed two of his missions and collided with power lines on a third.

And then came Vietnam. In 1967, at the age of 30, McCain was assigned to the USS Forrestal as an A-4 bombing pilot in Operation Rolling Thunder. On July 29, the ship caught fire, and as McCain was helping to rescue one of his mates, a bomb exploded hurling shrapnel into his legs and chest. He survived, but 134 of his fellow sailors did not.

McCain requested transfer to the USS Oriskany. He flew 22 successful missions, but things went horribly wrong on the 23rd. He was hit by a missile…he ejected, breaking both arms and a leg…he landed in Truc Bach Lake…he treaded water with one leg…he was pulled out by the North Vietnamese, who crushed his shoulder with a rifle butt and bayoneted him…he was thrown into the Hanoi Hilton.

And then. He was beaten and interrogated…he lost 50 pounds over 6 weeks in the hospital…he was placed in solitary confinement for 2 years…he was offered release as part of a propaganda campaign, but he refused…he was subjected to beatings every 2 hours while he suffered from dysentery…he was forced to make an anti-US “confession” but refused to sign additional statements…

He was finally released on March 14, 1973. When he returned home, he endured months of physical therapy. But he would never regain the ability to raise his hands over his head.

At that point, he started up a path that would make his forebears, and his nation, proud. It is a part of his life that is well-documented: he served in the Navy until 1981, retiring as a captain (equivalent to an Army colonel); he served as a Congressman (1982-1986), a Senator (1986-2018), was twice a candidate for the GOP nomination for President (2000 and 2008) and once the GOP nominee (2008).

McCain has not always been a saint, and some of his legacy is checkered. But he will be remembered as a patriot.

You want to question whether this guy is a winner?

Here you go: John Sidney McCain III, winner of one Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendations and one Prisoner of War medal.

Bravo Zulu, Captain. Thank you for your service.