Admiral John McCain

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Complete medal group of Admiral McCain with award documents and large paper/photo archive with documentation from family. 

The war had drawn to a close Admiral John McCain by his own admission was worn out and ready to go home. No Doubt McCain had good reason for his exhaustion. From the early days of World War Two he had been on the front lines at Guadalcanal where he commanded all land-based air operations to support the Guadalcanal campaign, then in 1944-1945 he aggressively led the Fast Carrier Task Force in the Pacific Ocean theater where his forces struck against the Philippines, Okinawa, Formosa and finally air strikes against the Japanese home islands. These strikes caused tremendous damage to Japanese naval and air forces helping led to the Japanese surrender in 1945. 

Knowing he was exhausted McCain Requested leave to go home before the surrender ceremony. Admiral Halsey refused his request stating that he would order him to stay if necessary, Halsey went on to say “Of course I’m not going to let him go home. The old SOB is entitled to witness the surrender, and that’s what he’s going to do. He was commanding a task force when the war ended, and I’m making sure that history gets it straight.” Halsey did provide a plane ride home for McCain as soon as the ceremony was over.  McCain went on to say “Thank God you made me stay Bill (Halsey)”, he said. “You had better sense than I did” 

While in route home a telegram arrived from Halsey to McCain saying “I HAVE GIVEN YOU WELL DONE SO MANY TIMES FOR INDIVIDUAL ACIEVMENTS THAT THIS FINE TRADITIONAL NAVY EXPRESSION OF APPROVAL IS INADEQUATE TO ESPRESS MY FEELINGSFOR THE SUM TOTAL OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO VICTORY. YOUR RESOURCEFULNESS, INGENUITY, STAMINA, AND FIGHT SPIRIT HAVE BEEN SUPERB X INADIQUATE THOUGH IT MAY BE GIVE YOU ONE MORE ROUSING FAREWELL WELL DONE. “Four days later McCain died at his home in California.