John McCain’s Vietnam jailer pays tribute to US senator’s 'strength and toughness'

John McCain was held at the “Hanoi Hilton” jail for five years during the Vietnam War
Getty Images
David Gardner28 August 2018

The ex-chief of the “Hanoi Hilton” jail where the late John McCain was held for five years during the Vietnam War today paid tribute to the US statesman’s “toughness and strong stance”.

Colonel Tran Trong Duyet, who ran notorious Hoa Lo jail, met Mr McCain many times during the years he was detained after his Skyhawk dive bomber was shot down over Hanoi in 1967.

He said: “At that time I liked him personally for his toughness and strong stance.

“Later on when he became a US senator, he and Senator John Kerry greatly contributed to promote Vietnam-US relations so I was very fond of him.”

He told state-published Vietnam News he was “very sad” and “I think it’s the same feeling for all Vietnamese people as he has greatly contributed to the development of Vietnam-US relations”.

Tran Trong Duyet, the former director at the Hoa Lo prison in Hanoi, speaking in front of photos of US prisoners of war
AFP/Getty Images

Mr McCain, who died of brain cancer on Saturday aged 81, was tortured repeatedly while in jail and admitted he tried to commit suicide.

The son of a four-star admiral, he was offered his release after a year, but would not abandon fellow prisoners. He was freed in 1973.

Republican Mr McCain and Democrat Mr Kerry, who both fought unsuccessful campaigns for the US presidency, played key roles in normalising relations with Vietnam in 1995.

Mr McCain was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump and the pair clashed repeatedly, with the president once flinging the insult: “He’s not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”

However, as the nation mourned the loss of the Arizona senator, Mr Trump bowed to pressure to lower the White House flag to half-mast again.

While US regulations state flags should be lowered “on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress”, for figures with the prominence of Mr McCain it is typical for the flag to stay at half-mast until the burial.

Mr Trump had ignored questions about his tepid response to the senator’s death but released a statement via the White House last night after the American Legion joined the clamour for the flag to be lowered.

He said: “Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain’s service to our country and ... have signed a proclamation to fly the flag ... at half-staff until the day of his interment.

“I have asked Vice President Mike Pence to offer an address at the ceremony honouring Senator McCain at the United States Capitol this Friday ... I have also authorised military transportation of Senator McCain’s remains from Arizona to Washington, DC ... and a horse and caisson transport during the service at the United States Naval Academy.”

Chief of staff John Kelly, defence secretary James Mattis and national security adviser John Bolton will represent the administration at the services.

In a final, emotional letter, read out by friend and former campaign manager Rick Davis, Mr McCain made pointed remarks about the president: “We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down.

“Do not despair of our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.”

Mr McCain was in the Senate for 31 years. He leaves his wife, Cindy, and seven children.

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