Advertisement

Opinion: John McCain’s own “band of brothers” gets a shout-out in St. Paul

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

John Kerry, at the 2004 Democratic National Convention that nominated him for president, made much of his ‘band of brothers’ -- veterans who had served with him in Vietnam.

Tonight, as the Republican National Convention kicked fully into gear following its session that was abbreviated on Monday because of Hurricane Gustav, a small group of John McCain’s military comrades were introduced (and loudly applauded) -- men who shared imprisonment and torture with him at the infamous Hanoi Hilton during the war in Vietnam.

Advertisement

McCain wasn’t there; he arrives Wednesday in Minnesota’s Twin Cities for the gathering that will officially make him the GOP’s presidential nominee. Instead, introducing the POWs was one of their other fellow captives: Orson Swindle (who shared a cell with McCain).

Swindle’s name may ring a distant bell for some -- in the 1992 presidential campaign, he served as a spokesman (as much as anyone could) for third-party candidate Ross Perot.

-- Don Frederick

Advertisement