Return to United States
President
Richard Nixon greets the released John McCain at a
White House reception honoring returning POWs.
May 24,
1973.
Upon his return to the United States, McCain was reunited with his wife Carol, who had suffered her own crippling, near-death ordeal during his captivity, due to an automobile accident in December 1969 that left her facing months of operations and physical therapy;
[49] by the time he saw her again she was four inches shorter, on crutches, and substantially heavier.
[50] As a returned POW, McCain became a celebrity of sorts:
The New York Times ran a photo of him getting off the plane at
Clark Air Base in the
Philippines; he published a long cover story describing his ordeal and his support for the
Nixon administration's handling of the war in
U.S. News & World Report;
[38] he participated in several parades and personal appearances; and a photograph of him on crutches shaking the hand of President
Richard Nixon at a White House reception for returning POWs became iconic.
[49]
McCain underwent treatment for his injuries, and attended the
National War College in
Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. during 1973–1974.
[49][17] Few thought McCain could fly again, but he was determined to try, and engaged in nine months of grueling, painful
physical therapy, especially to get his knees to bend again.
[50] By late 1974 McCain had recuperated just enough to pass his flight physical
[50] and have his flight status reinstated,
[49] and he became Executive Officer and then
Commanding Officer of the
VA-174 Hellrazors, the East Coast
A-7 Corsair II Navy training squadron stationed at
Naval Air Station Cecil Field outside
Jacksonville in Florida and the largest attack squadron in the Navy.
[49][17][51] McCain's leadership abilities were credited with turning around a mediocre unit, improving its aircraft readiness and pilot safety metrics and winning the squadron its first
Meritorious Unit Commendation,
[50] and while some senior officers resented McCain's presence as favoritism due to his father, junior officers rallied to him and helped him qualify for A-7 carrier landings.
[50]
During the time in Jacksonville, the McCains' marriage began to falter.
[52] McCain had extramarital affairs,
[52] and he would later say, "My marriage's collapse was attributable to my own selfishness and immaturity more than it was to Vietnam, and I cannot escape blame by pointing a finger at the war. The blame was entirely mine."
[52] His wife Carol would later echo those sentiments, saying "I attribute [the breakup of our marriage] more to John turning 40 and wanting to be 25 again than I do to anything else."
[52]