Admiral John S. McCain
U.S. Navy (USN)

Background
John Sidney McCain Sr was born August 9, 1884 as the third child of parents John Sidney McCain and Elizabeth Ann Hart Young McCain in Carroll County, Mississippi. Nicknamed "Slew". Also known as John S. McCain Sr.

Wartime History
On May 20, 1942 McCain aboard Seaplane Tender USS Tangier (AV-8) at Noumea, assumes command as Commander Aircraft South Pacific Forces (COMAIRSOPAC), a new command established to direct the operations of tender and shore-based aviation in the South Pacific area.

On August 7, 1942 supports the U.S. invasion of Tulagi and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and afterwards earned the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) for his role in the operation.

On February 24, 1943 at a White House ceremony Major John L. Smith is bestowed the Medal of Honor by U.S. President F. D. Roosevelt at a White House ceremony with Mrs. Louise Outland Smith, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, Maj. Gen. Harry Schmidt (USMC), Maj. Gen. Ralph J. Mitchell (USMC), Rear Adm. John S. McCain and Rear Adm. R. S. Edwards.

On August 18, 1943 five divisions were transferred from the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) to form the nucleus of the new office and Vice Admiral J. S. McCain took command as the first DCNO (Air).


At the end of the Pacific War, McCain was physically exhausted and requested home leave but Admiral Halsey insisted he attend the official Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay off Japan. On September 2, 1945 McCain attended the official surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri (BB-63). During the ceremony, he was standing in the front row of senior officers. That same day, he was photographed with his son, Navy officer John S. McCain Jr. After the ceremony, he was flown back to the United States On during a welcome home party in Coronado, he told his wife he did not feel well and suffered a heart attack and died at 5:10pm.

Memorials
On September 6, 1945 died of a heart attack at age 61. Promoted to the rank of four star Admiral. On September 10, 1945 laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in section 3 site 4356.

Awards
McCain earned the Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) for his role in the U.S. occupation of Tulagi and Guadalcanal August 1942 and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Relatives
John S. McCain Jr. (son, first father-and-son pair to achieve four-star admiral rank in the U.S. Navy)
John S. McCain III (grandson, U.S. Navy aviator, served in Vietnam War and was a POW and later U.S. Senator)

References
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - John S. McCain (grave photos)
FindAGrave - ADM John Sidney “Slew” McCain I (photo, grave photo)

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