McCain's Ex-Jailer In Vietnam Remembers His 'Toughness' In Captivity

David Barden

Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday at the age of 81, has been remembered for his “toughness and strong stance” by the former director of the Vietnamese prison where he was held as a prisoner of war for five and a half years.

Col. Tran Trong Duyet told Vietnam News that he felt “very sad” upon learning of the death of the decorated war hero.

McCain was held in captivity by the North Vietnamese in Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton” by American POWs, after his plane was shot down in October 1967 during a bombing mission over Hanoi.

McCain was subjected to repeated beatings and interrogations while being held captive and sustained lifelong injuries that prevented him from raising his arms above his head.

“I had a lot of time meeting him when he was kept in the prison,” Duyet said. “At that time I liked him personally for his toughness and strong stance. Later on, when he became a U.S. Senator, he and Senator John Kerry greatly contributed to promote Vietnam-U.S. relations so I was very fond of him.”

Duyet added that he’d like to send condolences to the McCain family.

“I think it’s the same feeling for all Vietnamese people as he has greatly contributed to the development of Vietnam-U.S. relations,” he said.

Speaking during a visit to Vietnam in 2000 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, McCain said he harbored “no anger nor rancor.”

“I’m a better man for my experience and I’m grateful for having the opportunity of serving,” he said at the time.

Indeed, in 1995, when diplomatic relations between the countries were normalized after two decades of severed ties, McCain said the United States had “looked back in anger at Vietnam for too long.”

“I cannot allow whatever resentments I incurred during my time in Vietnam to hold me from doing what is so clearly my duty,” he said in a statement. “I believe it is my duty to encourage this country to build from the losses and the hopes of our tragic war in Vietnam a better peace for both the American and Vietnamese people.”

Also on HuffPost

Then-U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. John McCain is interviewed about his experiences as a prisoner of war during the war in Vietnam on April 24, 1973.
Then-U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. John McCain is interviewed about his experiences as a prisoner of war during the war in Vietnam on April 24, 1973.
Barack Obama, at the time the president-elect of the U.S., meets with his former GOP rival McCain at Obama's transition offices in Chicago on Nov. 17, 2008.
Barack Obama, at the time the president-elect of the U.S., meets with his former GOP rival McCain at Obama's transition offices in Chicago on Nov. 17, 2008.
McCain as a young boy with his grandfather, Vice Admiral John S. McCain Sr., and father, Commander John S. McCain Jr., in a family photo from the 1940s.
McCain as a young boy with his grandfather, Vice Admiral John S. McCain Sr., and father, Commander John S. McCain Jr., in a family photo from the 1940s.
McCain confers with Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) during remarks to the press outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington on Dec. 16, 2005. The senators were often referred to as the "three amigos."
McCain confers with Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) during remarks to the press outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington on Dec. 16, 2005. The senators were often referred to as the "three amigos."
Then-President Richard Nixon greets former Vietnam prisoner of war John McCain at a pre-POW dinner reception in Washington on May 24, 1973.
Then-President Richard Nixon greets former Vietnam prisoner of war John McCain at a pre-POW dinner reception in Washington on May 24, 1973.
McCain in 2008, during one of his three appearances on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
McCain in 2008, during one of his three appearances on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
This reproduction of a family photo shows McCain in military uniform at his sister Sandy's wedding in the late 1950s.
This reproduction of a family photo shows McCain in military uniform at his sister Sandy's wedding in the late 1950s.
McCain talks to his wife on the speaker phone in his Senate office.
McCain talks to his wife on the speaker phone in his Senate office.
Members of the McCain family attend the christening of USS John S McCain (DDG-56), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, in Bath, Maine, on Sept. 26, 1992.
Members of the McCain family attend the christening of USS John S McCain (DDG-56), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, in Bath, Maine, on Sept. 26, 1992.
McCain stopped by ABC's "The View" on his daughter Meghan McCain's birthday.
McCain stopped by ABC's "The View" on his daughter Meghan McCain's birthday.
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) confers with McCain before the start of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Feb. 10, 2005.
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) confers with McCain before the start of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Feb. 10, 2005.
McCain, holding recently adopted Bridget, with wife Cindy Hensley, Vice President Dan Quayle and daughter Meghan during Mock Swearing on Jan. 7, 1993.
McCain, holding recently adopted Bridget, with wife Cindy Hensley, Vice President Dan Quayle and daughter Meghan during Mock Swearing on Jan. 7, 1993.
McCain at his home in Phoenix, Arizona.
McCain at his home in Phoenix, Arizona.
McCain at a rally in the park with his family: daughter Bridget, wife Cindy, sons Jack and Jimmy, and daughter Meghan, on Jan. 31, 2000, in Keene, New Hampshire.
McCain at a rally in the park with his family: daughter Bridget, wife Cindy, sons Jack and Jimmy, and daughter Meghan, on Jan. 31, 2000, in Keene, New Hampshire.
McCain and his mother, Roberta McCain, are interviewed by moderator Tim Russert during a taping for a broadcast on the "Meet the Press" website at the NBC Studios on May 13, 2007.
McCain and his mother, Roberta McCain, are interviewed by moderator Tim Russert during a taping for a broadcast on the "Meet the Press" website at the NBC Studios on May 13, 2007.
McCain as a baby on his grandfather's lap in a family portrait, circa 1936. Also pictured are his sister, father and mother.
McCain as a baby on his grandfather's lap in a family portrait, circa 1936. Also pictured are his sister, father and mother.
McCain talks with Marines at Camp Fallujah outside of Fallujah, Iraq.
McCain talks with Marines at Camp Fallujah outside of Fallujah, Iraq.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.