Group+3-Per+8

//John McCain: Faith Of My Fathers// By John McCain & Mark Salter


 * Pages:** 349
 * Genre:** Autobiography

1) Glenn Scalia 2) Mark Vetterlein 3) Mike Vicchio 4) Scott Raymound
 * Group Members:**


 * A: Group leader + food**
 * B: Summary**
 * C: Provide 5 questions**
 * D: Answer 5 questions**


 * Book Summary:**

John McCain is one of the most admired leaders in the United States government, but his deeply felt memoir of family and war is not a political one and ends before his election to Congress. With candor and ennobling power, McCain tells a story that, in the words of Newsweek, "makes the other presidential candidates look like pygmies."

 John McCain learned about life and honor from his grandfather and father, both four-star admirals in the U.S. Navy. This is a memoir about their lives, their heroism, and the ways that sons are shaped and enriched by their fathers.

 John McCain's grandfather was a gaunt, hawk-faced man known as Slew by his fellow officers and, affectionately, as Popeye by the sailors who served under him. McCain Sr. played the horses, drank bourbon and water, and rolled his own cigarettes with one hand. More significant, he was one of the navy's greatest commanders, and led the strongest aircraft carrier force of the Third Fleet in key battles during World War II.

 John McCain's father followed a similar path, equally distinguished by heroic service in the navy, as a submarine commander during World War II. McCain Jr. was a slightly built man, but like his father, he earned the respect and affection of his men. He, too, rose to the rank of four-star admiral, making the McCains the first family in American history to achieve that distinction. McCain Jr.'s final assignment was as commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific during the Vietnam War.

 It was in the Vietnam War that John McCain III faced the most difficult challenge of his life. A naval aviator, he was shot down over Hanoi in 1967 and seriously injured. When Vietnamese military officers realized he was the son of a top commander, they offered McCain early release in an effort to embarrass the United States. Acting from a sense of honor taught him by his father and the U.S. Naval Academy, McCain refused the offer. He was tortured, held in solitary confinement, and imprisoned for five and a half years.

//Faith of My Fathers// is about what McCain learned from his grandfather and father, and how their example enabled him to survive those hard years. It is a story of three imperfect men who faced adversity and emerged with their honor intact. Ultimately, Faith of My Fathers shows us, with great feeling and appreciation, what fathers give to their sons, and what endures.

**Source:** Link**Reference:** Link


 * Book Proposal:**

Our group decided to read //John McCain's Faith Of My Fathers// as our independent reading project. Since the book is around 300 pages and brings an interesting topic, we feel that //John McCain's Faith Of My Fathers// is a great fit. In the book, John McCain, Senator of Arizona, tells his story about his life before and after his years in service and what his family has done for this country. Our group feels that this will be a very interesting book, that will inspire us for the years to come.

John McCain is one of the most respected man in the United States Government and we feel we owe him his respect. He has brought so much to this country, and our group feels that the least we can do for this man is read his autobiography. The book starts off with John McCain's grandfather and father, both being four-star admirals in the United States Navy. McCain talks about what they have done and how they are heros to many people, and the ways that sons are shaped and enriched by their fathers. His father, distinguished himself by heroic service in the navy as a submarine commander during WWII. Similar to his grandfather and father, John McCain III followed a similar path by going to the United States Naval Academy. He knew what his last name means to this country and realized he had to earn respect and affection like any other plebe at the Naval Academy. John, himself, became a four-star admiral, making it the first time in history for a family to achieve that distinction. John McCain III final assignment was as commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. It was the Vietnam War that John faced his most difficult challenge being a Prisoner of War. Acting from a sense of honor taught by his father and the United States Naval Academy, McCain refused to embarrass the United States that would have let him escape. McCain was tortured and held imprisoned for five and a half years.

Even though this book contains violence, //John McCain: Faith Of My Fathers// would be a great book to read as a group. Filled with great emotion and patriotism, //John McCain: Faith Of My Fathers// shows the importance of looking up to a father as a role model. McCain learned from his grandfather and father that enabled him to survive those long 5 and a half years as a POW. //John McCain: Faith Of My Fathers// shows great inspiration and desire, it would be a great book to read.


 * Faith of My Fathers Meeting 1**
 * Faith of My Fathers Meeting 2**
 * Faith of My Fathers Meeting 3**