McCain's Vietnam Captor Speaks: A Conversation With Tran Trong Duyet

In 1967, US presidential candidate John McCain's plane was shot down on a bombing mission over North Vietnam.

BBC reporter Andrew Harding tracked down the man who held him captive in a Hanoi jail for five years.

"McCain is my friend," said 75-year-old Tran Trong Duyet. "If I was American, I would vote for him."

Comments

[Triciann]

This is just bizzare beyond words. The BBC are doing some strange things regarding this election. Some very biased, pro McCain segments on BBC World News America where they cherry picked the facts regarding economic policies recently. But this is so irrelevant and this "jailer" is probably scared for his life!

[sink]

Where is the "McCain is my friend" quote in this video? I didn't hear it....

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

So, the Viet Cong have ENDORSED Grampy McSame, does that make him a COMMUNIST APPEASER, A PINKO, or a COM-SYMP?

I gotta brush up on my McCarthy-speak.

[allwrite]

Sound the alarm. The right wing psycho-chants need to get on this fast.

[Daisy1111]

HuffPost's Pick

I read about this Vietnamese man.

His captors kept M c C a i n's arms tied behind him and secured to his ankles all day -- this is what messed up his arms - this guard did the night shift and would loosen Mc's ties to give him relief overnight. But in the morning he would retie them so he wouldn't get shot for defyng orders.

Years later when M c C a i n went back to Viet Nam he said the only man he wanted to see was this guard who showed him compassion. They have been friends since.

[lthuedk_1]

Then, there's this story, told by an American Col.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuSDwwKLYr8

[ohiomark]

Why didn't they arrest him for war crimes for tourturing McCain when they interviewed him?

[ebethgay]

Hmm. Well there you go.

[WFV]

So, could this be considered a VC 'endorsement'? If the shoe were on the other foot, a stink would be made about this comment. Remember the Hamas 'endorsement'?

[pupbayer]

You actually believe the VC? Geez.

[zippywpinhead]

of course you're right- they're too smart to vote for a fool like McCain...

[pupbayer]

And you sound like the biggest fool of all.

[zippywpinhead]

well that explains all his flip flops on immigration, he's looking for the Vietcong vote...

[Gary47]

Well now if that ain't the mother of all endorsements!

[Jules1]

Everyone needs to get the video out as soon as you can to everyone you know. I had heard he was never tortured, he sang like a bird because he was afraid he would be, and he admits he sold his country out, he never got a promotion when he got back, others did..........................

[Daisy1111]

Who gives you yor talking points, J u l e s. Are you one of those paid 400?

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Jules, don't believe everything you 'hear' about someone. Try Google.

Sadly, Lt. McSame was tortured in the Hanoi Hilton. That's what happened to his arm, among other atrocities. He probably didn't get it as bad as the other prisoneers, the VC knew his father was an Admiral, but he still got tortured and generally mistreated for 5 years. He also refused early release by his captors.

As for his getting promotions; he was promoted through the ranks as a Lt. Commander, Commander, and finally to Captain, though I don't think he ever got Early Selected, and he has been conflating his chances of being made an Admiral recently.

That being said, there's no chance in hell I'd vote for him. I used to respect him, but that was a long time ago.

[pupbayer]

You HEARD? From WHOM? Obviously you don't know anyone who was in the Hanoi HIlton. I did. Trust me they TORTURED prisoners. This guy says, ""But I can confirm to you that we never tortured him. We never tortured any prisoners." BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I canNOT believe the remarks I am reading here! You should be ashamed! You do not know what you are talking about and yet you will put this man who has already been through hell because of his military service through this kind of crap.

You don't like him personally? Great. You don't like his policies? Great. Attack him on those. Don't vote for him.

You are no better than the Republicans who attacked John Kerry. In fact, you are uglier.

I don't care for McCain myself. But I have NO idea what I would do going through years at the Hanoi Hilton. I DO know what it did to a couple of good, strong men I knew who did go through it. I've never had any use for the military establishment. I was very active in the anti-war movement during the Viet Nam era. But this line of discussion is so far out of line I don't even know the words to express it.

Your attacks are despicable! You f**kin punks would whine if you missed a meal. You have no idea what you are talking about so quit talking about it.

[JohnTalbutt]

You are right that the remarks are offensive. Still in is in the interest of the people of America that he be defeated because he is wrong on the most important issue and doesn't seem to be all that smart. I have a friend who flew 360 successful missions over North Vietnam which is the record or close to it. He doesn't think it qualifies him to be President. Neither does John McCains military record.

[Cil]

Tran Trong Duyet,

"McCain....IS....my friend"

"If I was American I would vote for him"

Would SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT A POW DOES TO BECOME THE FRIEND OF HIS CAPTOR?

[obamajusrocks]

be a candidate for President of the USA ?

[CalGoldenBear]

Reverse "Stockholm Syndrome"?

[going2ireland]

Well, by gawd. Tha makes it official. We should all vote for Mc.

[SantaFeStars]

15 minutes of fame for Tran Wrong Pooooh!

[tel8034]

Communists now ENDORSING McCain?

McCain should learn that when you spit in the wind it flies right back in your face.

Does McCain remember what he said about Hammas and Obama?

But Hammas UN-ENDORSED Obama and McCain is stuck with the VIETCONG.

NOW THAT'S POETIC JUSTICE !

[naschkatze]

Hmmm. It also brought to mind when Louis Farrakhan endorsed Obama, and although Obama didn't solicit it at all, the right tried to nail him. ('They will probably resurrect LF in the fall.) But if McCain's Communist North Vietnamese captor now endorses McCain, that's supposed to be a plus for him?