text: J ohn Sidney McCain, Sr. (August 9, 1884–September 6, 1945) was an Admiral in the United States Navy, notable as a commander of the Fast Carrier Task Force in World War II. His son John S. McCain, Jr. was also an admiral (the only father-son pair of full admirals in US history), and his grandson John McCain III, also a naval officer, (retired Navy Captain), is a U.S. Senator from Arizona. All three attended the United States Naval Academy, which his great-grandson, John S. (Jack) McCain IV, is currently attending. 
   
   McCain was born in Teoc, Mississippi, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1906 after attending a few years at the University of Mississippi. His first assignments were on ships of the Asiatic Squadron. During the American occupation of Veracruz in the Mexican Revolution he served in San Diego, and remained on the ship during 1918 while she performed Atlantic escort duty. In the years between the world wars, McCain served in many ships, including Maryland (BB-46), New Mexico (BB-40), and Nitro (AE-2). His first command was the Sirius (AK-18). In 1936, at the age of 51, he was designated a Naval Aviator, and from 1937 to 1939 he commanded the aircraft carrier Ranger (CV-4), contributing much to the development of carrier tactics for the war to come. For the first year of World War II he served as Commander of Air Forces for Western Sea Frontier and the South Pacific Force. While the majority of his service in this capacity was reportedly excellent, a lapse in McCain's leadership of his forces significantly contributed to the Allied defeat and heavy losses in one of the naval battles around Guadalcanal. McCain had been requested to conduct extra reconnaissance missions over "The Slot" in the Solomon Islands on August 8, 1942. For reasons never explained, McCain failed to order the missions as requested, and furthermore, didn't inform the Allied naval commanders at Guadalcanal that they weren't carried out. As a result, Allied naval forces were surprised and defeated in the Battle of Savo Island on August 9, a defeat that jeopardized the entire Guadalcanal operation for the Allies. In October 1942 McCain became Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics and in August 1943 rose to the rank of Vice Admiral as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air). In 1944 he returned to the Pacific Theater, succeeding Marc Mitscher as commander of the Fast Carrier Task Force, which for over a year operated almost continuously in support of the great amphibious operations. McCain's exceedingly skillful tactics protecting Canberra (CA-70) and Houston (CL-81) in October 1944 earned him the Navy Cross, and the daring forays of his mobile force had much to do with the eventual victory. Vice Admiral McCain died in September 1945, just after arriving back in the United States, and was posthumously appointed Admiral effective that date. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. For his outstanding performance as an air planner and carrier task force commander he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with two Gold Stars and for gallantry, he was awarded the Navy Cross; Secretary James Forrestal commented: "He was a fighting man all the way through." 
   
   United States Navy Photo 
   
   JS McCain and WF Halsey Aboard USS New Jersey 1944 - US Navy Photo USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) was named for him and his son. 
   
   Born at Carroll County, Mississippi, August 9, 1884, the son of John Sidney and Elizabeth-Ann Young McCain. He was a student at the University of Mississippi, 1901-02 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1906, from the Navy War College in 1929, from Flight Instruction School, 1936. He married Katherine Vaulx, August 9, 1909. Their children were: John Sidney, James Gordon, Katherine Vaulx. He was commissioned an Ensign, 1906, and promoted through the grades to Rear Admiral, 1941; Vice Admiral, July 1943. He served as Chief of the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics, September 1942-July 1943; Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air, July 1943; Commander, Carrier Task Force 38. Planes under his command took part in action over Peleliu, Leyte Gulf, Philippine Sea, Mindoro, Luzon, Formosa, Ruyukyus and the Japanese homeland. His planes once sank 49 Japanese ships in a single day. Between July 10 and August 14, 1945, his aviators located and destroyed 3,000 grounded enemy planes. He witnessed the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. He died on September 6, 1945 and was buried in Section 3 (Grave 4356) of Arlington National Cemetery, among other family members, including his brother, William Alexander McCain, Brigadier General, U.S. Army, and John Sidney McCain, Jr., Admiral, United States Navy. 
   
   Photo Courtesy of Dave's War Birds 
   
   Photo Couresy of Russell C. Jacobs, August 2006 
   
   Photo Courtesy of Ron Williams Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson 
   
   
   
   Page Updated: 14 May 2000 Updated: 19 May 2001 Updated: 3 March 2002 Updated: 12 December 2002 Updated: 4 March 2003 Updated: 15 May 2004 Updated: 17 October 2004 Updated: 23 August 2006 Updated: 17 October 2007 Updated: 8 July 2009 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
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target: – At least 10 US sailors are missing after the USS John S. McCain collided with a tanker early Monday east of Singapore and the Strait of Malacca in the second collision involving a ship from the Navy's 7th Fleet in the Pacific in two months. The Navy says five other sailors were hurt in the collision involving the guided-missile destroyer, the AP reports. The McCain—named after Sen. John McCain's grandfather—was heading to Singapore for a routine port visit, the Navy says. It spent last week conducting a sensitive freedom of navigation operation by sailing near one of China's man-made islands in the South China Sea. It wasn't immediately clear if the oil and chemical tanker Alnic MC sustained damage or casualties. The McCain was damaged on its port side aft, or left rear, from the accident that happened at 5:24am, the Navy's 7th Fleet said, but it was heading to port under its own power. Malaysia's navy chief says two ships as well as aircraft from its navy and air force have been deployed to help look for the missing US sailors. Sen. McCain tweeted: "Cindy & I are keeping America's sailors aboard the USS John S McCain in our prayers tonight - appreciate the work of search & rescue crews." In June, seven sailors were killed when the USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant vessel off the coast of Japan.