Photo Gallery War Hero, Senator, Republican Frontrunner
A career military man: John McCain, left, pictured in his military dress uniform beside his father, John S. McCain Jr. Sen. McCain is the son and grandson of Navy Admirals, and he spent 20 years in the Navy.
War Hero: McCain, front and left, is pictured with his squadron in 1965. McCain was a Navy fighter pilot during the Vietnam War.
In 1967, he was shot down over Truc Bach Lake near Hanoi. This picture shows McCain being captured there by Vietnamese civilians.
McCain was held prisoner by the North Vietnamese army for five years. He was tortured and seriously injured.
He returned to the US in 1973 as a war hero. Here, he met with US President Richard Nixon.
Dark Memories: In 2000 McCain visited the "Hanoi Hilton," as American prisoners of war called Vietnam's Hoa Lo Prison. Here McCain examines a jail cell and tells his son Jack about the time he spent there as a prisoner.
Debater: In 2000, John McCain faced off for the Republican presidential nomination with George W. Bush -- who eventually won the nomination and the presidency ...
... though McCain won the Republican primary in New Hampshire that year. The New Hampshire primary has long been an indicator of who the eventual nominee will be.
This year McCain won the New Hampshire primary again -- and went on to gain a spot as the presumed Republican nominee.
Tireless campaigner: McCain checks his wireless e-mail device on his campaign bus in Michigan.
