WILMINGTON, Del. – Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement on Senator John McCain:
“John McCain is a fighter, and I am hopeful he will once again beat the odds. During his naval service, John survived a terrible fire on board the USS Forrestal, he survived being shot down and he survived five and a half hard years of captivity. I have had the honor of serving with him and traveling with him repeatedly over the past seven years and he is a true leader and an American hero. I am praying for his full recovery and for the return of his forceful voice to the Senate.
“Last month, I had the honor of traveling again with John McCain, this time to Vietnam and Singapore. We visited the site where his plane was shot down and the prison where he was a POW. Throughout our visit, I saw his humor and grace in recounting this very hard history, and in many meetings with senior Vietnamese officials, I saw the very high regard in which he is held throughout the country for his amazing work over 22 visits to Vietnam to reconcile our countries. We also visited the USS John McCain, named for his father and grandfather, in Cam Ranh Bay, where he spoke to the crew and presided over an inspiring re-enlistment and promotion ceremony. Finally, we visited Singapore for a regional security conference, where I heard across many meetings the deep respect for his leadership by many allies and adversaries alike across the region.
“Overall, this trip was a chance to be reminded of Senator McCain's experience and leadership at a time when we need both in the Senate. I truly hope he will return soon to continue his service in the Senate.”
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