One of the best stories I like to tell. I was a nobody CPT at Al Faw Palace lurking outside “the big meeting.” SEN John McCain comes out to use the restroom. There was a small step down; he didn’t see it. Just me and him, he missed it. I stuck hand out and caught him. 1/

He gathers himself, says “hey Captain, anybody see that?” I say “no sir, safe with me.” He says “you tell anybody, I’ll kill you—- but hell of a job.” Slaps me on the shoulder goes back into the meeting. He was a frail old man but I didn’t doubt him for a second. 2/

After the meeting, there were HUNDREDS of soldiers lined up to take pics. His staffers were nervous. Tight timeline. SEN McCain turns to one of them and says “I’ll stand here all goddamn night if they want to take pictures with me.” And he did. For four hours. 3/

I think he was in his mid 70s at that point. But he didn’t drink water and he didn’t take breaks. He stood there and greeted every soldier— firmly and genuinely. His staff was freaking out but he didn’t give a shit. Snapped pics with very last one. 4/

Asked them where they were from, how their families were doing. Quietly, calmly, left with a smile on his face. His cup was full, not from the bullshit briefings he received all day, but from shaking hands and being with America’s best and brightest. He was the real deal. End/