John McCain (DDG 36) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS JOHN SIDNEY MC CAIN THE STORY OF A SHIP [i qji ij l]R p;r?Ji W. j jk ' S G;o R;P.o Ri Mii ' i,Q. ' f i, SHIPBUILDERS. AND ENGINEERS July 9, 1952 NEW TYPE DESTROYER TO BE LAUNCHED AT BATH IRON WORKS The destroyer leader, U. S. S. JOHN S. McCAIN, designed to operate in a carrier task force screen and to combat enemy submarines, will be launched at the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, at 6:30 P, M. , July 12, 1952. Principal speaker at- the launching ceremonies will be Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, USN, famed commander of the U. S. Navy ' s Third Fleet in the Pacific during World War II. Also attending will be Secretary of the Navy Dan Kimball and former Secretary of the Navy John L Sullivan. The new vessel will honor the late Admiral John S McCain, USN, Commander of Carrier Task Force 38 during the war. Spon- sor will be Mrs- John £. McCain, Jr., of Arlington, Va - , wife of Admiral McCain ' ' s son, a navy Captain. MRS. JOHN S. MC CAIN JR. CHRISTENS DL-3 MAINE, 12 JULY 1952. 108

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PN2 R. P. KLEMM YN3 G. E. BENNETT HM3 C. A. PORFIRIO t 1» Itt: JOS E. R. FRYER PN3 A. A. JUST PN3 L. K. KEETER YNSN D. SANCHEZ YNSN D. M. HOGAN YNSN D. HILL 107

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ADMIRAL JOHN SIDNEY MCCAIN, USN John Sidney McCain was born in Teoc, Mississippi, on August 9, 1884, son of John S. and Elizabeth Young McCain. He attended the University of Mississippi (one year), and entered the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on September 25, 1902, graduating in February, 1906. He was commissioned Ensign in February, 1908 (after the two years then required by law before commissioning), and subsequently advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral. In 1944, he became Commander of the SECOND Carrier Task Force, Pacific Fleet, which was in almost continuous action during the remainder of the war, operating with Admiral Halsey ' s THIRD Fleet as the famous Task Force THIRTY- EIGHT. This force spearheaded the drive into the Philippines, supported the capture of Okinawa and rode rampant through the Western Pacific from the Indo-China Coast to the Japanese home islands. The Cease Fire order came as its Navy airmen were over Tokyo for the third time in five days For heroism and great achievement in the Pacific during the latter period of World War II, Admiral McCain was awarded the Navy Cross, and Gold Stars in lieu of the second and third Distinguished Service Medals. After witnessing the Japanese surrender ceremonies on board the battleship MISSOURI, Vice Admiral McCain was ordered to report to the Secretary of the Navy in Washington for further assignment. He flew to his home in Coronado, California, on September 6, 1945. A few hours after his arrival the gallant fighter suffered a stroke and died. His death was attributed to war exhaustion. After being posthumously promoted to Admiral in the United States Navy by joint resolution of Congress, he was buried with full military honors i n Arlington National Cemetary. His son. Admiral John S. McCain, Jr., and his grandson, John S. McCain, III, continue the family tradition of superb naval leadership. Both hold decorations for valor and distinguished service to their country. VICE ADMIRAL McCAIN WITH ADMIRAL HALSEY DURING SIGNING OF THE JAPANESE SURRENDER ON USS MIS- SOURI AT JAPAN. 109