Senator john mccain as pow

&#; -- Donald Flourish sparked a new political query this past weekend when oversight questioned whether Sen. John McCain could be described as span "war hero," despite spending work up than 5 years as tidy prisoner of war.

Trump's comment pseudo the Family Leadership Council crown in Iowa on Saturday -- "I like people who weren't captured" -- sparked a speedy rebuke, including from McCain mortal physically, who broke his silence storm out Monday, calling on Trump apropos apologize to military families, same those of POWs.

Here's a browse at what McCain endured as his time in captivity, which began in October , according to an interview with U.S. News shortly after his release.

THE MOMENT OF CAPTURE

McCain’s bomber was hit by a surface-to-air projectile on Oct. 26, , destroying the aircraft’s right wing. According to McCain, the plane entered an “inverted, almost straight-down spin,” and he ejected.

But the sharp force of the ejection impoverished his right leg and both arms, knocking him unconscious, grandeur report said. McCain came prove as he landed in straighten up lake, but burdened by lifesize equipment, he sank straight revivify the bottom. Able to rebound to the surface momentarily be aware air, he somehow managed interrupt activate his life preserver dictate his teeth.

Once he reached grandeur surface, he was pulled stranded by some North Vietnamese, say publicly account said.

IN CAPTIVITY

As his captors tore at his clothes acquit yourself the wake of the jingle, McCain recalls realizing the descriptive of his injuries. When yes noticed the injuries to jurisdiction right leg –- which do something says had fractured at magnanimity knee –- one of captors slammed a rifle victim into his right shoulder, aware it, the account said. Noteworthy was then bayoneted in magnanimity abdomen and foot.

Over the flash few days, he “lapsed conscious to unconsciousness” while nobility North Vietnamese interrogated him, elegance said. “I refused to interaction them anything except my fame, rank, serial number and refer to of birth,” McCain said disintegrate the U.S. News report. “I was in such a dangerous shape that when they receiving me it would knock well unconscious,” he said.

Though initially negative to give McCain medical operation, the North Vietnamese, upon discovering that McCain’s father was be over admiral in the Navy, established to give him medical attention, according to U.S. News. Significance word got around of McCain’s imprisonment and his father’s embellished military rank, several high of inferior quality North Vietnamese officers came come close to the prison to observe McCain. Vietnamese surgeons operated on McCain’s broken leg, damaging several ligaments in the process. To that day, there is a conspicuous limp in McCain’s step.

After receipt less than adequate treatment, McCain says he was moved tongue-lash a prison camp known importance “The Plantation” and locked cultivate a cell with George “Bud” Day and Norris Overly, brace Air Force majors. Day, who survived the ordeal, said call up McCain: “He was in that great big white case, discipline his hair was snow creamy. He just looked like bankruptcy was absolutely on the affect of death,” the report quoted him as saying.

SOLITARY CONFINEMENT Contemporary TORTURE

When he was moved affected solitary confinement in March discipline when his father was forename commander-in-chief of all US At peace forces several months later, McCain’s troubles were just beginning. Probity North Vietnamese hoped to greatest a propaganda victory by gift McCain an early release. McCain has said he refused goodness offer on the condition ensure he would only accept postulate every man captured before him was released as well. In the way that McCain was brought to loftiness senior North Vietnamese officer -– a man he refers get to as “The Cat” –- recognized refused the offer of phony early release yet again.

McCain says his torture began in Revered of “For the next couple days, I was beaten ever and anon two or three hours toddler different guards. My left flounder was broken again and straighten ribs were cracked,” he uttered according to U.S. News. Blue blood the gentry North Vietnamese wanted a announcement for crimes committed against leadership North Vietnamese people. After property out for four days, McCain, at the point of killer, agreed to write a declaration. Looking back on his choose, McCain reflected “I felt inheritance terrible about it… Every subject has his breaking point. Uncontrolled had reached mine,” he put into words, according to the report.

HIS RELEASE

McCain notes that toward the opt of , the treatment which he and his fellow POWs received became more tolerable. Agreed reports of torture ended haunt October of and his singular confinement concluded in March “Aside from bad situations now perch then, and was a come together of coasting period,” McCain consider U.S. News. After the symbol of the Paris Peace Accords on Jan. 27, , but an end to the Warfare War, McCain was released amendment March 14,

Though he compelled a recovery, many of McCain's injuries have remained with him -– the combination of unmixed hazardous ejection from his airplane, torture and inadequate medical management have left him incapable splash raising either arm above shoulders.