McCain's military experience

Senator McCain retired from the Navy with a rank of Captain. This is equivalent to the rank of Colonel in the Army. This would make him the most militarily experienced President since Eisenhower.

Being a captive during the Vietnam War is not necessarily applicable experience for Commander in Chief, but moving up the career ladder to the rank of Captain is certainly good experience.

McCain's military service questioned

Some on the left, far left it appears, are questioning Senator McCain's war record. It is the usual garbage about war crimes and fighting in an unjust war. Outside of San Francisco and Berkeley, I'm doubtful that anyone will buy this particular line of unreasoning. This will play well in the old hippy echo chamber, but it is not likely to hurt McCain. It is more likely to damage Obama if it gains any level of press coverage. Though, he has clearly stated he considers McCain to be a war hero.

The topic of service to one's country

This is the topic of Senator Obama's commencement address to the 2008 graduates of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Senator Obama was subbing for Senator Kennedy who, obviously, could not make the address.

Obama makes the point that he took a job as a community organizer when he graduated Columbia, rather than pursuing the big bucks on Wall Street. Personally, I don't know what a community organizer is; the image I get is of a paid rabble rouser. He was paid only $12,000 plus $2,000 for a beat up old car. He goes on to describe the value of public service and the many opportunities available. Oddly, he doesn't mention one obvious line of service.

When I hear the term service to one's country the first thought I have is of military service. Senator Obama did not mention it as a course of service to one's country. I am sure that Senator Kennedy would feel quite comfortable with military service, as his brother Joe was killed in WWII and Jack was seriously wounded. President Kennedy was a true war hero. I don't think the words, "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," were a call to community organizing.

A man who is running for Commander in Chief should not be comfortable with ignoring the value of military service.

U.S. Military Deaths

1980 2,392

1981 2,380

1982 2,319

1983 2,465

1984 1,999

1985 2,252

1986 1,984

1987 1,983

1988 1,819

1989 1,636

1990 1,507

1991 1,787 (a)

1992 1,293

1993 1,213

1994 1,075

1995 1,040

1996 974

1997 817

1998 827

1999 796

2000 758

2001 891

2002 999

2003 1,228 (b)

2004 1,874 (b)

2005 1,942 (b)

2006 1,858 (b)

(a) Persian Gulf War

(b) Iraqi War

This is an interesting set of statistics. Military deaths were as high or higher during peacetime in the 1980’s as they are currently with active military operations in Iraq.

Ratio of Deaths to Wounded

Operation Iraqi
Freedom 1:7.6

Operation
Enduring Freedom 1:3.2

Persian Gulf War 1:1.2

Vietnam 1:2.6

Korea 1:2.8

World War II 1:1.7

World War 1:1.8

The ratio of deaths as a fraction of total casualties is improving over time, with the Persian Gulf War as an outlier (949 total casualties is in that war.) My guess is Vietnam and Korea had improved field hospitals in place, and the current improvements are due to body armor and further medical advances.

Read the whole report, it is interesting and details casualties all the way back to the American Revolution.

Source: CRS Report for Congress. American War and Military Operations Casualties:
Lists and Statistics. June, 2007.