Vice Admiral James Stockdale, a former Vietnam POW and 1992 Reform Party vice presidential candidate, died last week at the age of 81. During Adm. Stockdale’s captivity, he slashed his own wrists to protest prisoner abuse, which led to immediate improvement in the treatment of him and his fellow prisoners. When he learned he would be used in a propaganda film, Stockdale smashed his own face to prevent it.
The man was uncharacteristicly brave. If anyone deserves the Medal of Honor, he did. I can’t imagine being able to do what he did.
Later in life, Ross Perot picked him to be his vice presidential candidate. Adm. Stockdale described it as “taking a football player, telling him he’s now a boxer, and then putting him in the ring with Joe Lewis.” Its a shame most people know of him only through this campaign disaster.
Read about Adm. Stockdale’s amazing life in his obituaries in the Los Angeles Times and the Olympian
That mold, sadly, has been broke. I would like to think I had 3% of his courage and selflessness but alas I am just a human being.
Lance, you got nothing on this man.
RIP