A Leader Born: The Life of Admiral John Sidney McCain, Pacific Carrier Commander [Hardcover]

Alton Gilbert (Author), John McCain (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2006

John S. 'Slew' McCain was an old-school sailor. Wiry, profane, a cusser and a gambler, he reminded more than one observer of 'Popeye.' He was also a pioneer in the hard-hitting naval tactics that brought Imperial Japan to its knees.

McCain graduated from Annapolis in 1906 and served aboard an armored cruiser in World War I. Espying the future of naval warfare, he earned his aviation wings in 1936 and by 1939 was commander of the aircraft carrier, USS Ranger. He was thus well placed to provide a leading role in America's cut and thrust war with the Japanese across the broad expanses of the Pacific. In 1942 he was made commander of all land-based aircraft during the campaign for Guadalcanal. Though he took his share of blame for the disaster at Savo Island, he counterattacked with every means at his disposal, to the point of commandeering the planes of the crippled carriers Enterprise and Saratoga to reinforce U.S. strength on Henderson Field.

Throughout the war, McCain prioritized fighters and single-seat dive-bombers as the best weapons to directly attack the enemy. By the time the U.S. returned to the Philippines, McCain was leading a fast carrier task force under William 'Bull' Halsey. When asked what he thought about his carrier commander, Halsey replied,"Not much more than my right arm." At the Philippines, Okinawa, and finally up to the very coastline of Japan, McCain's carrier group destroyed thousands of enemy planes and hundreds of ships with aggressive, swarming tactics. When the Empire formally surrendered on the battleship Missouri, McCain was in the first row of U.S. officers looking on.

After Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945, McCain flew back to his home in the U.S., and died in his bed the next day-perhaps from heart failure but more probably from exhaustion. His name has lived on, however, through his son, John S. McCain II, who became commander of U.S. naval forces in the Pacific, 1968-72 (the first father and son four-star admirals in U.S. history), and his grandson, John S. McCain III, a carrier pilot who became the one of the longest held U.S. POW during the Vietnam War and currently serves as a U.S. Senator from Arizona.

Drawing upon a wealth of primary sources, including information provided by the McCain family, as well as an expert grasp of the titanic battles waged by the U.S. armed forces in the Pacific, Alton Keith Gilbert has provided the fullest account of the first Admiral John McCain's life yet written. An unconventional leader, Slew McCain's career was marked by courage and innovation, as he emerged from World War II as one of America's greatest combat leaders.

REVIEWS

"... warts and all biography of an engaging and accomplished man... a good read and Alton Gilbert has done excellent spadework. I am sure other readers will agree with me that our appetite has been whetted for yet more information on the feisty John Sidney McCain." Proceedings Magazine, Naval Institute Press 02/2007

.."Most people...do not know that McCain's grandfather was also an admiral. ...As I was to discover, in the pantheon of WWII Naval leaders, John Sidney McCain ranks right up there with William Haskey, Raymond Spruance and Marc Mitcher...Provides a fairly complete picture of a remarkable combat leader who deserves to be better known thank he is... for those who enjoy narrative history and biographies, and who appreciate military history..." The Weekly Standard, 06/2007

"...A must read for anyone who desires to learn about another one of the great admirals of WWII."Naval War College,8/2007

"...portrait of a remarkable man who played a key role in winning the Pacific Theater in WWII... contains a useful index and many interesting photographs...Senator McCain wrote the forward to this book, is clearly proud of Slew, for good reason."Virginia Pilot Newspaper 10/2007

"... an overdue and rich tribute to a staunch American naval hero..."WWII Quarterly Vol 4 Number 3 2007

"...a most readable biography suitable for a general readership and especially for World War II Naval History buffs.... represents a long overdue consideration of one of America's most important World War II Admirals."Military History of the West, 12/2008

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Casemate; First edition (August 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932033505
• ISBN-13: 978-1932033502
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,051,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Story of WW II Leadership in the Pacific, November 14, 2006

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Leader Born: The Life of Admiral John Sidney McCain, Pacific Carrier Commander (Hardcover)

An excellent story of one of the senior commanders of the Navy in the Pacific during World War II. It also covers a lot of the interplay between the admirals as Admiral King selected men for high command positions.

This book is a lot more forgiving of King than a lot of recent history that talks instead about his refusal to institute convoys along the American coast and left it open for U-boats. Cain was a King man. He knew, worked with, supported, and in turn was supported by King.

Cain also appears to have been a supurb commander, and to have instituted a great set of attributes in his children and even grandchildren. This is particularily interesting as Cain III appears to be making a decision about running for Congress.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Leader Born, December 21, 2009

By 

Brian K. Thomas "B Thomas" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Leader Born: The Life of Admiral John Sidney McCain, Pacific Carrier Commander (Hardcover)

Received my book within the time frame I paid for. It was as advertised, new. This book is very interesting for all WW II Pacific buffs. I can highly recommend it. The Essex Class of carrier was a workhorse for the Navy and it's airgroup carried a "Sunday Punch". When they lined up at Ulithi or some other big lagoon to rest and refit, they were indeed a "Murderers Row". I believe that the new class of American carriers should be named the "King" class after Ernest King. Then right on down the line with the WW II Admirals including John "Slew" McCain. Old Slew doesn't have to take a back seat in history to any of his contempraries. This would be more fitting than to continue to name them after Presidents, with the exception of George H. W. "Poppy" Bush, who served as an Avenger pilot on CVL-30 San Jacinto, in WW II. Other than him, this practice needs to stop. Is the only criteria now for naming a new carrier, the ability to raise enough money for the out-fitting ceremonies? If that's the case what's next, corporate sponsorship? Would somebody please relate this concern to the SecNav and the CEO of Newport News. Thanks, B. Thomas

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Leader Born, November 4, 2006

By 

Eva B. Turner (San Diego, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Leader Born: The Life of Admiral John Sidney McCain, Pacific Carrier Commander (Hardcover)

A LEADER BORN: The Life of Admiral John Sidney McCain, Pacific Carrier Commander
by Alton Gilbert.

Captain Gilbert has shown a keen insight into the leadership qualities of Admiral McCain. He also captures the complex interrelationship between Admiral McCain and his contemporary Naval commanders during World War II.
Clyde T. Turner Jr.