The Vietnam War was one of the most controversial wars in American history. People protested America even being involved in the war. Men were drafted to fight in the war. Some were so against the Vietnam War, they left the country to avoid fighting. However, many went on to fight. Numerous prisoners of war were taken during the war. Many of the prisoners were often treated horribly, held in captivity for years, and often never the same after returning to their families after being released. Prisoners of war during the Vietnam War were often treated to horrible conditions and treatment. Countless soldiers were brought into the prisons with injuries received when they were shot down or captured. Most were given very little medical treatment or …show more content…
He was held captive for five and a half years. He was taken prisoner after being shot down on October 26, 1967. He was found by an angry group of North Vietnamese people. He ended up at a prison in Hanoi. McCain had serious injuries from being shot down and was told he would not be given any medical treatment unless he talked. However, that changed when his captors found out his father was a Navy Admiral. John McCain was then taken to the hospital. He was in the hospital for several weeks and then moved to a camp in Hanoi. McCain was finally able to walk again in March 1968. McCain was treated fairly well until July 4, 1968 when he refused to go along with their plan to release him on the day his father was to become commander-in-chief of the Pacific. After that, he was treated horribly. He was beaten and tortured. McCain said, “They wanted a statement saying that I was sorry for the crimes that I had committed against North Vietnamese people and that I was grateful for the treatment that I had received from them.” McCain refused to make the statement for four days. Finally, he had no choice and signed the statement. His treatment did not get any better after he signed the statement. The torture and beatings continued. McCain remained a POW until March 1973.