Faith of My Fathers

We're going after the thermal power plant

In the middle of Hanoi,

with an attack heading of 090.

Be alert to the warning tones.

Missile tracking. Missile lock.

You may have to lose altitude to get the SAM out of phase,

And if you do, you're going to decel.

They're going to want to bleed you down to parade rest

and then slam you with triple A.

Attack formation will be combat speed, rolling in at 6,000 feet.

From there, you're on government time.

Study your aim points.

Designated aircraft will engage in diversionary maneuvers...

Twenty-two mission bombing truck stops in Haiphong.

Think you're ready for the show?

Been ready since I buzzed my first cow in an A-1.

You're most exposed when you roll off...

Livestock don't shoot back.

Remember, you can't defend against what you can't see.

Smoke on the ground means possible launch.

You lose sight, you lose the fight.

Now I want to see all of your ugly faces

back here for chow at 1700 hours.

Red crown, saints drive inbound.

Switching group I. Muster to target.

Go blow something up.

Roger.

Keep it loose. This is Fox.

This is 02. I got strobes. Eyes out.

Lot of flak at 12:00. Heads up! Heads up!

All right, let's get in and out.

They've lit it up here.

Missile lock! Where the hell is he?

02, SAM at 7:00.

I'm hit!

2:00!

Got it!

Easy!

04, break off!

Target in 10.

Release and head on your 50 to the pond.

I see it.

Missile launch. Smoke on the ground.

I'm goin' in!

SAM at 4:00. SAM at 4.

Break off, 08!

Less than five to release.

McCain. It's Tom.

Yes, sir?

Apparently, John was on a mission

over Hanoi and he was shot down.

Did anyone see him eject?

No, but we got a report, his plane took a hit from an SA-2.

Thank you, sir.

Is there anything we can do?

No, we will be fine.

We would appreciate any status reports of consequence.

I'm really sorry about this, Jack.

Thank you, sir.

Johnny was hit over Hanoi.

His plane exploded.

There was no sighting of a chute.

Night-night, sweetheart.

Night-night, Mommy.

Come on.

Move over.

Quick, hide!

Boys, get under the covers right now!

Hello?

Carol, it's Jack and Roberta.

I've got some bad news I'm afraid.

Johnny was shot down over Hanoi.

We're trying to figure out whether or not he's been located.

Are the kids still up?

No, the children are all in bed.

We're doing everything we can.

Yes, I'm sure.

Are you okay? One of us could fly out there.

I'll be all right.

As soon as we've heard anything, we'll call you.

My leg!

Thank you.

I shoot down plane you fly.

Morning.

The names of your squadron.

Go piss up a tree.

I do not think that's the answer I'm wanting.

The names of your squadron.

I said, go piss up a tree.

Ahh...

Starr,

Gregg,

McGee,

Davis,

Adderley, Brown, Ringo, Wood.

Ten points, McCain.

Ray Nitschke, our C.O.

Thank you, Mr. McCain. Get some rest.

The '62 Green Bay Packers.

16-7 over the Giants in Yankee stadium

for the championship.

Your C.O. recovered two fumbles.

M.V.P.

Deflected a pass for an interception, too.

Hey,

I'm John, John McCain. What's your name?

What's your name?

Come on, Johnny!

Yeah. Watch it! Watch it!

Get up, Johnny!

Can I offer you some coffee, Captain McCain?

No, thank you.

You wanted to see me regarding my son.

Yes.

John is walking a very dangerous line.

His grades place him near the bottom of his class,

and I see him on a regular basis for disciplinary matters.

My concern is that his appointment to the Naval Academy

is highly unlikely.

He won't make the grade.

My suggestion is that you apply to some other colleges.

Just cover your bases, so to speak.

Has he broken the honor code?

Excuse me?

Has he lied, cheated, or stolen anything?

We have one of the oldest honor code

traditions in the country, Captain.

I know what it means.

Good.

Then I would appreciate it if you would call me if he breaks it.

Thank you.

What happened?

He die.

Where are you taking him?

Where are you taking him?

Morning, McCain.

What is the name of that soldier?

Too many. I don't know.

His name?

How could you let him die?

We did not invite him here.

We did not invite you here.

You have a visitor.

A French journalist, Mr. Chalais, to interview you.

You will say how grateful you are to the Vietnamese people

and how sorry you are for your crimes.

If you do not cooperate, your cast will be removed,

you will be sent back to your cell.

Your limbs will rot, and you, too, will die.

Okay?

Hello.

How are you being treated?

I'm grateful

for the medical aid I've received...

And for the operation

the doctors have promised to perform on my leg.

Are they feeding you well?

It's not Paris, but I eat it.

You have revealed information about your military unit.

The names of the men in your squadron.

Can you repeat them for us?

That would be okay, I guess.

Starr, Gregg,

McGee, Davis, Adderley,

Brown, Ringo,

Wood, Nitschke.

That's fine.

Is there anything you would like to say to your family?

I would just like to say...

To my wife,

that I will, I will get well.

And that I love her.

And I hope to see her soon.

Thank you.

McCain, more. We need more.

I have enough, thank you.

McCain!

The interview is over.

Well, we put out the fire,

but the leak in the conning tower flooded the pump room.

Grounded out the air-compressor, air-conditioning unit.

At 300 feet below the surface,

we turned off all auxiliary engines

to minimize the noise while the destroyer circled above us.

The temperature hit 120, humidity was 100%.

We stayed there for 18 hours.

We were pretty much inhalin' our own breath

when I gave the crew a choice.

Surface and fight, or surface the sub and scuttle her.

What did you do?

It was unanimous. Fight.

So what happened?

Well, I'm here, aren't I?

The destroyer. Where was the destroyer?

About 3,000 feet from us.

Goin' in the opposite direction.

Yeah, I figured if we'd started our ascent five minutes earlier,

we'd have bumped right into its hull.

You never told me that story before.

It wasn't your first day at Annapolis before.